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 is the TNA staff contact for all things CaPT.

MEREDITH BELL

(WA)

Meredith Bell is the Artistic Director of Theatre Kimberley, the performing arts company based on Yawuru Djugan country, which has run the Sandfly Circus for 15 years. Originally from the United States, Meredith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art (>Magna Cum Laude, Davidson College) before following other creative pursuits including culinary arts, world travel, film & television production and event management. Since joining Theatre Kimberley as a circus trainer in 2008, Meredith’s role expanded to Circus Coordinator and then ultimately to Artistic Director. She has directed numerous large-scale youth productions and street shows, and has produced numerous other circus arts and visual theatre performances. Meredith’s biggest joy is having the opportunity to bring together diverse and talented artists to create amazing results with community.

ANNI DAVEY

(VIC)

Anni is the Artistic Director of Albury-Wodonga's Flying Fruit Fly Circus, a position she has held since 2018. Anni's circus career took off after attending a Circus Oz performance – a connection that has continued for more than 30 years as a performer, director, operations manager and technical co-ordinator. Anni was the Chair of the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association  between 2010 and 2017 and has been on other boards including Melbourne Fringe Festival.

LAUREN EISINGER

(NSW)

Lauren is an Independent Producer, originally from Sydney, but recently returned to Australia from the UK where she has been working as a Producer and Festival Programmer. Lauren has been International Development Manager for Circa Contemporary Circus, Festival Programmer and Producer for Underbelly UK, and Project Manager for Sydney Festival programming Circus City featuring Legs on the Wall, Circus Oz, Gravity and Other Myths as well as an accompanying industry conference and talks program. Alongside this she was working on large scale outdoor events including Symphony Under the Stars with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

DARCY GRANT

(SA)

Darcy is Creative Lead of Gravity and Other Myths. He is a classically trained acrobat, award-winning fine art photographer, physical theatre director and founding member of Circa. He has trained, taught and toured work on the cutting edge of New Circus to some of the world’s most prestigious venues. Where theatre, dance, circus and visual art meet is where Darcy likes to practice. His visual aesthetic is foundation and scaffold to his show making. In 2017 Darcy was commissioned by Adelaide International Arts Festival to direct Backbone by Gravity and Other Myths. The show premiered to 5-star reviews and standing ovations, also attracting three Helpmann Award nominations including Best Choreography and Best New Australian Work. 

HARLEY MANN

(VIC)

Harley Mann is a Waka Waka man from Melbourne Victoria. He has been in and amongst the circus community for the past 15 years working as a student, trainer, performer and director. Harley is also a current member of Casus Circus featuring as a cast member in their all first nations production ‘Chasing Smoke’. In 2017 Harley developed his own independent circus company ‘Na Djinang Circus’ and was a lead creative of their most recent work ‘Common Dissonance’. This company hopes to establish itself as one of the world’s leading circus accompanies that challenges the stereotypes of contemporary circus, an inclusive company that creates equitable access to the industry and doesn’t marginalise young performers.

LOKI RIcKUS

(SA)

Lachlan ‘Loki’ Rickus has been performing across Australia and internationally for over 19 years. Loki started his circus career with Cirkidz Youth Circus School (Adelaide) graduating in 2003. His training is in ballet, circus, gymnastics and musical theatre.
Loki is a passionate advocate for accessibility in circus and the greater arts landscape and is a founder of The Fair Ground Project, Australia’s inaugural professional development company for circus and physical theatre practitioners with a lived experience of disability.

FREYJA WILD

(TAS)

A graduate of The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Freyja has spent the majority of her adult life as a full-time ensemble acrobat, specialising in hula-hoops, group acrobatics and subtly subverting classic gender representation onstage. Freyja has performed in over 35 countries, with C!RCA, Circus Oz, Les 7 Doigts de la Main and independently. Freyja now lives in Launceston, Tasmania with her husband and young son where she runs contemporary circus company ROOKE as well as producing part-time for Lauren Eisinger Productions.

Past CaPT Advisory Committees

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).

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