CIRCUS & PHYSICAL THEATRE (CAPT) ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TNA’s CaPT Advisory Committee was established in 2017 to maintain strong engagement and information exchange between TNA and the circus and physical theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. Meeting quarterly, the 8 members are on a two-year tenure.

Steph Speirs manages the CaPT team and program, and Christy Flaws administers and co-convenes the Advisory Committee.

CHRIS CARLOS (VIC)

Chris Carlos is an acrobat, fire performer, event manager, coach and mentor. After 20 years performing nationally and internationally, Chris uses this experience and the connections gained to help guide the next generation of performers. He does through his company Spin Circus which runs events like Spin Circus festival, the Australian Partner Acrobatic convention (APAC), the Spin Circus Course and the International Partner Acrobatic Convention (IPAC).

ADELAIDE CHURCH (NT)

After being introduced to social circus 30 years ago by outback off shoots of the women’s circus movement, Adelaide has continued learning, sharing and supporting the joys of community circus. Facilitating Circus Dust Mparntwe in Alice Springs has been a channel for adventures in storytelling, sparkles, high flying aerials and environmental activism. Circus Dust provides regular accessible open level aerial training sessions, a space for visiting teachers and practitioners, support and encouragement for desert circus escapades and a whole lot of fun! Adelaide has also taught circus skills with Tangentyere and central Australian schools & festivals, helping to share the joy of circus with town campers and remote communities.

GEORGIA DEGUARA (WA)

Georgia is Director of West Australian all-female performance company, YUCK Circus. YUCK is a multi-award winning, internationally-touring company championing the female voice across live performance. Currently with 5 touring works Georgia strives to create exciting work in the industry, and to use her knowledge to inspire the next generation of artists. Georgia grew up in the isolated town of Broome, training at Theatre Kimberley’s Sandfly Circus from the age of 11. When not on tour, Georgia works with community in producing, performing, and mentoring roles. Specialising in outreach programs, she tours to isolated communities providing circus as a tool of engagement and creative expression.

MEREDITH KITCHEN (SA)

Meredith Kitchen is a highly experienced director, performer, choreographer, and teacher with a career spanning over 30 years in various performing arts disciplines, including dance, physical theatre, puppetry, and circus. Beginning her journey as a dancer at a young age, Meredith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and went on to perform with Australian Dance Theatre, Dance North, Chrissie Parrot Dance Collective, and The One Extra Company. Seeking new artistic horizons, she joined Compagnie Phillipe Genty in Paris, France, where she worked for over 12 years. Returning to Australia in 2010, Meredith took up the role of Head of Movement Studies at The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). In this role, she designed, implemented, and taught the movement studies course across all year levels, as well as directing and choreographing numerous performances. Currently, Meredith holds the position of Associate Director at the South Australian Circus Centre, the home of Cirkidz. In this capacity she continues to shape the circus arts landscape, bringing her vast experience and artistic vision to guide and inspire the next generation of performers. Meredith Kitchen's extensive background as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and director, along with her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence, have made her a highly respected figure in the performing arts community.

TONY ROOKE (TAS)

Born in the first half of the last century, Tony grew up on a pineapple farm in south east Queensland with three sisters and five brothers. He was sent off to ballet training by his mum at the age of 9, then by his dad at 14 to become a carpenter/joiner. Later he ran off to Sydney and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, before setting out on a life of theatre, film, cabaret and circus. Not missing any opportunities, Tony has lived at least nine lives, having worked around the world as a performer, builder of off-grid houses, consummate gardener, and all round carnival vagabond. He's a lover of life, and passionate about growing his own food and eating it. Tony is into walking gently on this planet, integrity in live performance and sharing the vulnerability of humanity with unsuspecting audiences. He also likes to keep hens and share eggs with friends. He's co-founder of ROOKE with four other hugely talented and motivated artists. He believes that ROOKE is the best thing since sliced raisin bread was invented.

JASMINE STRAGA (NSW)

Jasmine Straga is a director of the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque (World Circus Federation) which represents the interests of the circus sector on a global scale with government institutions and UNESCO to enable the circus industry to take part in the decision-making procedures. Jasmine is the Founding-Director of the Australian Circus Festival and Director of J.S. Creations, a creative direction company creating acts and developing shows for Australia and overseas. Jasmine sits on the steering committee of the Global Alliance of Circus Schools, an exclusive international network of professional circus training institutions. GACS supports the efforts of professional circus schools, circus centres and emerging artists to reach their full potential in creation, performance and production through collaboration, the sharing of ideas and events and networks. Jasmine sits on the advisory committee of the Ethiopian Circus Centre, Africa’s first state of the art, purpose-built circus theatre and school, and is a director of the Kyiv Academy of Circus and Variety Arts Scientific Journal in Ukraine.

LIL TULLOCH (NSW)

Lil Tulloch is a distinguished figure in the Australian entertainment sector, co-founding the production house Beeswax and Bottlecaps in 2013 alongside George Le Couteur. Beeswax and Bottlecaps, under Lil's and George's leadership, has flourished, offering a diverse range of entertainment services. The production house, built on their combined stage experience of over 20 years, specialises in Circus, Vaudeville, and Variety. It is known for producing theatre shows, roving entertainment, spectacle events, and large-scale activations, primarily along Australia's East Coast. Key partnerships have included Luna Park Sydney, Noel Sydney, Elevate Sydney, the Star Casino and Circus Quirkus and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Lil's recent professional focus has been on producing site-specific activations, utilising her extensive performance background to create unique, location-based events that offer immersive experiences. Additionally, she has transitioned into roles as an MC and voice-over artist, contributing her deep understanding of live performance to ensure the seamless execution of events.

Past CaPT Advisory Committees

2023: Co-Convener: Harley Mann (VIC), Darcy Grant (SA), Meredith Bell (WA), Freyja Wild (TAS), Anni Davey (VIC), Lauren Eisinger (NSW) and Loki Rickus (SA).

2022: Co-Convener: Harley Mann (VIC), Darcy Grant (SA), Meredith Bell (WA), Freyja Wild (TAS), Anni Davey (VIC), Lauren Eisinger (NSW), Lisa Fa'alafi (QLD) and Loki Rickus (SA).

2021: Jascha Boyce (SA), Alice Cadwell (NSW), Harley Mann (VIC), Lisa McCready (QLD), Jo Smith (WA), Devon Taylor (VIC), Lisa Fa'alafi (NSW) and Loki Rickus (SA).

2020: Jascha Boyce (SA), Alice Cadwell (NSW), Harley Mann (VIC), Lisa McCready (QLD), Jo Smith (WA), Devon Taylor (VIC), Steph Cox (VIC) and Natano Fa'anana (QLD).

2018-19: Kate Fryer (VIC), Joshua Hoare (SA), Felicia Lannan (VIC), Rockie Stone (VIC), Deb Wilks (QLD).