Vulcana Women's Circus
Encyclopedia
Vulcana Women's Circus is an Australian circus
, created with the aim of training women and girls in the circus arts. Started in 1995 by Antonella Casella in Brisbane
, Australia, the company was named after the famous British
strongwoman
Vulcana
.
The company has three main activities, which often overlap.
The company's inaugural production was A Girl's Own Adventure, performed in December 1995 at the Princess Theatre in Annerley
, Brisbane. The second production in 1996 was Volt, a low-budget production for the Brisbane Festival. In 1997, Casella and Gough directed Life Blood at the Princess Theatre. Anna Yen and Casella co-directed Fire in the Belly for La Boite Theatre's 'Shock of the New' festival in 1998. In 1999, Anna Yen and Casella co-directed " Blissed Out, Distraught and Intoxicated..." which was performed at the Princess, then toured to Adelaide for the 2000 Fringe Festival.
In 2000 the company moved from its original location in West End
to the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm
. The Vulcana show I'd Rather be a Cyborg than a Goddess, directed by Therese Collie, was part of the Powerhouse's opening season. This show toured to the National Circus festival in Mullumbimby, and also did a week at the Lismore
Town Hall. In 2001, Yen directed 'Aviatrix' which was performed at the Powerhouse and Chelsea McGuffin was Artistic Director of Vulcana. "Cravings", directed by Casella, was presented in the Visy Theatre at the Powerhouse in 2002.
Antonella Casella rejoined Circus Oz
, and in 2003 the new artistic director of the company was Celia White.
Under White's direction, in 2005 Vulcana, in partnership with Inala Wangarra, Kooemba Jdarra, and Contact Inc, produced Bungo the Money God. The show was based on a dramatisation of a story by Uncle Herb Wharton
, and was performed at the Brisbane Powerhouse by members of the Inala community, from children to elders, including established performance troupes from the community.
White also helmed the productions Home Fictions in 2004 (community show in partnership with the Older Women’s Network); Circus in a Tea Cup (2006) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Service and Qld Injecting Health Network; Strange Creatures (2006) with the Deaf community in Brisbane and the Vulcana workshop community; Uncharted (2007) with African migrants in partnership with MultiLink Settlement Services, SpeakOut and BEMAC; Sling Backs, High Heels and Sensible Shoes (2008) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Advocacy Service and Women’s Health Qld Wide (among others.)
After White's departure in mid-2009, Penny Lowther joined Vulcana as the interim Artistic Director. Lowther was the founder of women's community circus Circus WOW in Wollongong, New South Wales
and came from a background of visual art and street performance. Productions during this time included Aperture - performed at the Island Vibe Festival on North Stradbroke Island
.
Veronica Neave has held the position of Artistic Director since 2010. In this year Vulcana celebrated its 15th Anniversary with a special celebration at the Brisbane Powerhouse, which was attended by many past and present staff members and participants, including Casella, White, and Lowther.
, Vulcana Circus continues to provide circus skills classes to women from all walks of life in Southeast Queensland
, and provides community and creative development opportunities in circus for participants of all skill levels.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
, created with the aim of training women and girls in the circus arts. Started in 1995 by Antonella Casella in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia, the company was named after the famous British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
strongwoman
Strongwoman
Strongwoman refers to either a woman performing feats of strength in a show or circus, or a woman who competes in strength athletics. Traditionally, strongwomen have had a special appeal, as women involved in demonstrated feats of strength were exceptions....
Vulcana
Vulcana
Kate Williams , sometimes called Kate Roberts, better known by her stage name Vulcana, was a Welsh strongwoman born of Irish parents in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire....
.
The company has three main activities, which often overlap.
- "Vulcademy" - an in-house circus school open to women over the age of 18.
- circus workshop programs within communities, run in partnership with community organisations.
- circus productions, performed for audiences.
The company's inaugural production was A Girl's Own Adventure, performed in December 1995 at the Princess Theatre in Annerley
Annerley, Queensland
Annerley is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 6 km south of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a town in England.-Geography:Much of the suburb is elevated, lying on a ridge that gives views of the city...
, Brisbane. The second production in 1996 was Volt, a low-budget production for the Brisbane Festival. In 1997, Casella and Gough directed Life Blood at the Princess Theatre. Anna Yen and Casella co-directed Fire in the Belly for La Boite Theatre's 'Shock of the New' festival in 1998. In 1999, Anna Yen and Casella co-directed " Blissed Out, Distraught and Intoxicated..." which was performed at the Princess, then toured to Adelaide for the 2000 Fringe Festival.
In 2000 the company moved from its original location in West End
West End, Queensland
West End is an inner-city suburb of southern Brisbane.-History:West End was named by early English settlers who found the area reminiscent of the West End of London....
to the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
. The Vulcana show I'd Rather be a Cyborg than a Goddess, directed by Therese Collie, was part of the Powerhouse's opening season. This show toured to the National Circus festival in Mullumbimby, and also did a week at the Lismore
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
Town Hall. In 2001, Yen directed 'Aviatrix' which was performed at the Powerhouse and Chelsea McGuffin was Artistic Director of Vulcana. "Cravings", directed by Casella, was presented in the Visy Theatre at the Powerhouse in 2002.
Antonella Casella rejoined Circus Oz
Circus Oz
Circus Oz was founded in December 1977, with its first performance season in March 1978. Circus Oz was the amalgamation of two already well-known groups - Soapbox Circus, a roadshow set up by the Australian Performing Group in 1976, and the New Ensemble Circus, a continuation of the New Circus,...
, and in 2003 the new artistic director of the company was Celia White.
Under White's direction, in 2005 Vulcana, in partnership with Inala Wangarra, Kooemba Jdarra, and Contact Inc, produced Bungo the Money God. The show was based on a dramatisation of a story by Uncle Herb Wharton
Herb Wharton
Herb Wharton is an Indigenous Australian former stockman and now internationally recognised poet and novelist.A Murri man, his maternal grandmother was Kooma, and both grandfathers Irish...
, and was performed at the Brisbane Powerhouse by members of the Inala community, from children to elders, including established performance troupes from the community.
White also helmed the productions Home Fictions in 2004 (community show in partnership with the Older Women’s Network); Circus in a Tea Cup (2006) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Service and Qld Injecting Health Network; Strange Creatures (2006) with the Deaf community in Brisbane and the Vulcana workshop community; Uncharted (2007) with African migrants in partnership with MultiLink Settlement Services, SpeakOut and BEMAC; Sling Backs, High Heels and Sensible Shoes (2008) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Advocacy Service and Women’s Health Qld Wide (among others.)
After White's departure in mid-2009, Penny Lowther joined Vulcana as the interim Artistic Director. Lowther was the founder of women's community circus Circus WOW in Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
and came from a background of visual art and street performance. Productions during this time included Aperture - performed at the Island Vibe Festival on North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island is an Australian island in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known...
.
Veronica Neave has held the position of Artistic Director since 2010. In this year Vulcana celebrated its 15th Anniversary with a special celebration at the Brisbane Powerhouse, which was attended by many past and present staff members and participants, including Casella, White, and Lowther.
, Vulcana Circus continues to provide circus skills classes to women from all walks of life in Southeast Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and provides community and creative development opportunities in circus for participants of all skill levels.