Yaron Lifschitz
Encyclopedia
Yaron Lifschitz is an Australia
n theatre director most notable for his involvement in the circus
arts. He has directed over 50 productions including mainstage theatre
, physical theatre
, large scale events and opera
. He originally came from South Africa.
In 1991 he graduated from the Directing course at National Institute of Dramatic Art
(NIDA) in Sydney, Australia. He is also a graduate of the University of New South Wales
.
He was first artistic director
of the Australian Museum
's Theatre Unit; a position he held for five years. In 1998, the Australian Museum commissioned him to create an exhibition entitled Thirst: reflections on water in Australia. He appointed Genevieve Blanchett, whom he had known at NIDA, as his production designer.
He has been head tutor in directing at Australian Theatre for Young People
and regularly teaches at NIDA.
He is the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Circa (formerly the Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus Ensemble) in Brisbane
. In 2002 he was instrumental in founding the Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus Training Centre.
After Stanislav Slavinski said "We [Europeans] are a dead culture. We are finished. What are your stories?" to him during a meeting in Prague he became interested in "telling stories that didn’t end in the way of the stories of European civilisation". Circus provided a means of telling stories with no narrative.
He lives and works in Brisbane.
, Brisbane
on September 10, 2004.
A Man In A Room Juggling – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and David Sampford; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Performed by David Sampford; Premiered at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
on July 14, 2004.
A Love Supreme – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
, Brisbane
on April 2004.
on October 11, 2003.
Anyway I’m Not Alone – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
, Brisbane
on June 25, 2003.
Naked – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
, Brisbane
on April 8, 2003.
Inferno – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
, Brisbane
on January 2003.
Opening of Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre – Produced by Zane Trow; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz. Performed at Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane on 5 May 2000 and 6 May 2000.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n theatre director most notable for his involvement in the circus
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...
arts. He has directed over 50 productions including mainstage theatre
Mainstage
Main stage theatre is that which falls between studio theatre and large-scale events. It is usually performed in a proscenium theatre or on a thrust stage. Main stage is also used to describe the performance space with the largest audience capacity at a performing arts festival or other venues.-...
, physical theatre
Physical theatre
Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primarily and secondarily physical and mental means. There are several quite distinct but indistinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre",...
, large scale events and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. He originally came from South Africa.
In 1991 he graduated from the Directing course at National Institute of Dramatic Art
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
(NIDA) in Sydney, Australia. He is also a graduate of the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
He was first artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the Australian Museum
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
's Theatre Unit; a position he held for five years. In 1998, the Australian Museum commissioned him to create an exhibition entitled Thirst: reflections on water in Australia. He appointed Genevieve Blanchett, whom he had known at NIDA, as his production designer.
He has been head tutor in directing at Australian Theatre for Young People
Australian Theatre for Young People
The Australian Theatre for Young People is Australia's flagship youth theatre company and the largest youth theatre in the world. Over 6000 young people aged between three and 26 participate in the company's work across Australia....
and regularly teaches at NIDA.
He is the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Circa (formerly the Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus Ensemble) 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...
. In 2002 he was instrumental in founding the Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus Training Centre.
After Stanislav Slavinski said "We [Europeans] are a dead culture. We are finished. What are your stories?" to him during a meeting in Prague he became interested in "telling stories that didn’t end in the way of the stories of European civilisation". Circus provided a means of telling stories with no narrative.
He lives and works in Brisbane.
2004
The Space Between – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary ArtsJudith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Queensland provides a 300-seat performance space, art gallery, artist studios, screening room and workshops with theatre rehearsal spaces for music, dance and circus. Opened in 2001 it is named after Judith Wright, who...
, 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...
on September 10, 2004.
- A man engages in marital and extra-marital sex. The effects of this are explored in music, dance and speech.
A Man In A Room Juggling – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and David Sampford; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Performed by David Sampford; Premiered at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct....
on July 14, 2004.
- David Sampford juggled, balanced, manipulated and performed magic on a huge grid of juggling balls to the music of a grand piano while photographic images and video of his performance was projected behind him.
A Love Supreme – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Queensland provides a 300-seat performance space, art gallery, artist studios, screening room and workshops with theatre rehearsal spaces for music, dance and circus. Opened in 2001 it is named after Judith Wright, who...
, 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...
on April 2004.
- Four performers improvised with circus skills to two jazz pieces: A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
by John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
and The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyThe Black Saint and the Sinner Lady-Personnel:Musicians*Charles Mingus – bass, piano, composer*Jerome Richardson – soprano and baritone saxophone, flute*Charlie Mariano – alto saxophone*Dick Hafer – tenor saxophone, flute*Rolf Ericson – trumpet...
by Charles MingusCharles MingusCharles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
.
2003
Ficklegravity – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Premiered at Livid 2003, SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on October 11, 2003.
- A collection of circus acts.
Anyway I’m Not Alone – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Queensland provides a 300-seat performance space, art gallery, artist studios, screening room and workshops with theatre rehearsal spaces for music, dance and circus. Opened in 2001 it is named after Judith Wright, who...
, 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...
on June 25, 2003.
- A collection of circus acts.
Naked – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Queensland provides a 300-seat performance space, art gallery, artist studios, screening room and workshops with theatre rehearsal spaces for music, dance and circus. Opened in 2001 it is named after Judith Wright, who...
, 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...
on April 8, 2003.
- A collection of circus acts.
Inferno – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; Created by Yaron Lifschitz and Circa; Premiered at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Queensland provides a 300-seat performance space, art gallery, artist studios, screening room and workshops with theatre rehearsal spaces for music, dance and circus. Opened in 2001 it is named after Judith Wright, who...
, 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...
on January 2003.
- A collection of circus acts.
2002
Figaro Variations – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; created by Rock 'n' Roll Circus, Directed by Yaron Lifschitz. Premiered at Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane on November 25, 2002.- A reinterpretation of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro with circus, dance, music and speech.
2001
Tango – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; created by Rock 'n' Roll Circus, Directed by Yaron Lifschitz. Premiered at Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane on September 1, 2001.- Circus skills displayed to the sounds of the tango.
2000
Sonata for Ten Hands – Produced by Rock 'n' Roll Circus; created by Rock 'n' Roll Circus, Directed by Yaron Lifschitz. Premiered at Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane on 6 June 2000.- Outline: Four performers describe the experiences of a one-legged child with three friends and then reunite them thirty years later. The piece features the music of Robert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
and Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
.
Opening of Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre – Produced by Zane Trow; Directed by Yaron Lifschitz. Performed at Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane on 5 May 2000 and 6 May 2000.
1992
- One of six one-act plays in Shorts, September 1992 for the Griffin Theatre CompanyGriffin Theatre CompanyGriffin Theatre Company is an Australian theatre specialising in new writing. It is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia...
, Sydney.