National Institute of Circus Arts - 7 Program

A triple bill of short, contemporary circus works

WELCOME TO 7

2014 sees NICA as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival for the first time. We have often had students devise shows (and win awards) as part of the Festival, but this is the first time NICA has taken a leading role in guiding our students towards a full scale production. Watch out for other productions featuring NICA students and graduates such as, “Carnival of Rustic Dreams”, “Illuminate”, “Just Us”, “Left”, “My Life in Boxes”, “The Lounge – A Circus Cabaret”, “Plan B” and “Snow”. “7” is an experiment that aims to raise awareness around contemporary issues, allow our students to explore avenues for creative and artistic expression and confront the nexis between performance and skills acquisition and demonstration. The three cameos promise a range of thought provoking and awe inspiring scenarios that should not be missed!

I sincerely thank all the students, teachers, creative and production teams involved in this year’s second year production for continuing the legacy of excellence that is NICA. To all those behind the scenes (including our wonderful administrative staff), my appreciation for your team effort to make sure that “all is right on the night”. To you, the audience, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Rose Stephens

NICA PROGRAM MANAGER

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

7 days in the week, 7 colours in the rainbow, 7 seas, 7 continents, 7 deadly sins…

The number “7” is significant and varied in its interpretations and meanings which is why it was selected as the theme for this triple bill. Each of the three companies has responded to “7” in distinctly different ways to create the smaller ensemble shows, allowing students to work in a highly collaborative environment with each other and their directors.

The triple bill offers an exciting new format for this second year performance with each act looking at an individual aspect of contemporary society. The acts include impressive circus skills, such as Tightwire, Dance Trapeze, Cloudswing, Aerial Ring and Tissu incorporated into the narrative of each show.

Meredith Kitchen DIRECTOR

SPECIAL THANKS

James Brown, Clearlight, Michelle Cheung, Chumba Concept Salon, Kane Jones, Olaf Meyer, Maria Rizzo and Showtech.

NICA is Australia’s Centre of Excellence for training in contemporary circus arts. It is one of eight national arts training institutes and offers Australia’s only Bachelor of Circus Arts. The course is accredited by Swinburne University of Technology and attracts applicants from across Australia and around the world.

Photography: Aaron Walker

Graphic Design: Blick Creative

Video documentation: Carnival Cinema

HEAD OF CIRCUS STUDIES

Lu Guang Rong

HEAD OF PERFORMANCE

Megan Jones

PRODUCTION

On the 7th Day

STUDIES

Directed by Martine Howard and Tarn Scully

Cast: Steven Finnegan, Mark Graham, Corie Hurry, Stephanie Mitchell & Maddie Robbins

Apartment 7

Directed by Meredith Kitchen and Aaron Walker

Cast: Marty Evans, Maggie Fayne, Adam O’Connor-McMahon, Stephanie Mouat, Simone Sallé & Elke Uhd

#ashtag7

Directed by Dan Power

Cast: Jillibalu Riley, Callan Beacroft, Miriam Cawley, Alex Jean, Erin Murphy & Keely Tyler-Dowd

Operations Manager Carmel Duffy

Production Manager & Lighting Designer Eduard Ingles

Stage Manager

Circus Director & Safety Officer

Rig Design & Head Rigger

Show Rigger

Cath Carmody

Stephen Burton

Aaron Walker

Andrew Bright

Mark Bradford

Sound Designer Angelique Ross

Sound Operator Kiaya Edwards

Head Electrician Yasmin Santoso

Follow Spot Operator

Front of House Manager

NICA TRAINERS

Stephen Burton

Tegan Carmichael

Charlie Cheng

Mathew Daniels

Liudmila Druzhina

Arturo Gomez

Martine Howard

Vasily Ivanov

Konstantin Ibraguimov

Meredith Kitchen

Kathryn Niesche

NICA BOARD

Professor Jennelle Kyd – Chair

Mr Tom Rowan – Company Secretary

Ms Kirsten Jeffery

Mr Bryan Rossi

Jacqui Penn

Marisa Cuzzolaro

Andrea Ousley

Daniel Power

Lu Rong

Ludwig Schukin

Earl Shatford

Tarn Scully

Donna Stevens

Aaron Walker

Julian Wisdom

Jing Jing Xue

Diana Zhang

Mr Luke Sheehy

Mr Jeffrey Smart

Mr David Stevens

Acknowledgement: Swinburne University of Technology recognises the historical and cultural significance of Australia’s Indigenous history and the role it plays in contemporary education. Each day in Australia, we all walk on traditional Indigenous land. We therefore acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land that our Australian campuses currently occupy, the Wurundjeri people, and pay respect to Elders past and present, including those from other areas who now reside on Wurundjeri land.