By a Thread By One Fell Swoop Circus Photo credit: Aaron Walker Photography Contents Contents COMPANY PROFILE ..................................................................................... 3 ABOUT THE SHOW ....................................................................................... 3 SHOW SYNPOSIS ....................................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... 3 BIOGRAPHIES ............................................................................................................................ 4 PERFORMANCE SPECIFICS ........................................................................ 5 DURATION .................................................................................................................................. 5 SUITABLE VENUES ................................................................................................................... 5 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES PER WEEK .................................................... 5 MINIMUM BREAK BETWEEN PERFORMANCES................................................................ 5 LICENCING AGREEMENTS ...................................................................................................... 5 APRA OBLIGATIONS ................................................................................................................ 5 TOURING PERSONNEL............................................................................................................. 5 AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................... 7 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 7 WORKSHOPS .............................................................................................................................. 7 MARKETING .................................................................................................. 8 MARKETING COPY .................................................................................................................... 8 TARGET AUDIENCE .................................................................................................................. 9 MEDIA AND MARKETING QUESTIONS .............................................................................. 10 MEDIA QUOTES ....................................................................................................................... 12 AUDIENCE REVIEWS .............................................................................................................. 13 VIDEO LINKS ............................................................................................................................ 14 IMAGES ...................................................................................................................................... 14 MARKETING MATERIALS ..................................................................................................... 14 CONTENT WARNINGS / AUDIENCES TO AVOID ............................................................. 15 TEACHER’S RESOURCES........................................................................................................ 15 PRODUCTION DETAILS .............................................................................. 15 TECHNICAL SUMMARY.......................................................................................................... 15 CREW REQUIRED FROM VENUE ......................................................................................... 15 CRITICAL ISSUES ..................................................................................................................... 15 CONTACTS .................................................................................................. 15 By a Thread Page 2 of 15 COMPANY PROFILE One Fell Swoop is a contemporary circus company that aims to re-examine the dynamics of acrobatic ensemble work and the relationships within it. Our practice focuses on bringing group acrobatics into an aerial context, and delivering a new perspective to the trust and risk implicit in all relationships, acrobatic or otherwise. We tour our show to put our brand of circus before a diverse range of audiences. Our ensemble aerial work is innovative and unique, and expands audiences’ appreciation of contemporary circus. Touring is also essential in helping us maintain a sustainable practice. ABOUT THE SHOW SHOW SYNPOSIS By a Thread is a new ensemble circus creation exploring the relationship between trust and play on an innovating aerial apparatus. Long spools of white rope run through pulley sheaves and wrap around bodies, explicitly connecting the artists’ movements above and off the ground. The actions of one acrobat affect and implicate the movements of the others in a precise negotiation of cause and effect. The performers use this metaphor for connectedness to explore the give and take, balance, and dynamics of relating to one another. Leaving the realm of the solo act, where the performer relies on their individual strength; our acrobats rely on the strength of the group to hold the end of the rope, keeping them aloft. By a Thread offers rich visuals of inventive aerial acrobatics and spectacular skills from some of Australia’s best emerging circus artists. With intense training in a breadth of contemporary circus disciplines, the performers have pooled their knowledge and skills, and then exploded the traditional boundaries of these disciplines to create a show where classic techniques are used in expansive ways and new skills are made possible. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Performers: Charice Rust, Jonathan Morgan, Ryan Darwin, Sarah Gray, Piri Goodman, Maya Tregonning, Alyssa Moore Dramaturg: Zebastian Hunter Lighting design: AfterDark Theatre Costume design: Emily Barrie Sound design: Lee Stout By a Thread Page 3 of 15 BIOGRAPHIES Charice Rust Charice Rust is not what you’d expect from an aerialist. From an early age working on her family’s sheep farm, she realised she enjoyed and excelled in using her body’s capacity for strength in movement. When she discovered circus she found her specialty, aerial straps, suited her enthusiasm for training hard and for defying expectations of what female bodies are capable of. Drawing on her intense training at NICA Charice challenges the status quo of aerial artistry, developing her unique straps style and vocabulary. She is co- founder of emerging contemporary circus company One Fell Swoop Circus where she combines her passion for innovative expression and considered ideas into creating powerful physical performances. Jonathan Morgan Jonathan Morgan is a Melbourne based circus artist who has been captivating audiences since he decided that perhaps partial differential equations were not for him. Leaving the Australian National University’s Bachelor of Philosophy (Science) to pursue circus, Jonathan found a passion for connecting with audiences on stage and developing circus shows with unique and interesting ideas. With experience in calculating projectile motion as well as physically doing it, Jonathan graduated from three years of intense training at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Aerial Rope and Slackwire. Jonathan is passionate about creating and performing circus that pushes the boundaries of ensemble and aerial work, and includes audiences in the joy he finds in circus arts. To pursue the ideas he felt demanded circus’s attention Jonathan co-founded One Fell Swoop Circus with Charice Rust. Together they enjoy the challenge of actively stretching what a circus show can be. Maya Tregonning Since the age of three Maya has tried her hand at ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, gymnastics, drama, piano and even magic. At the age of 12 Maya stumbled upon a circus street show in Fremantle, WA and was inspired to start a circus journey. A graduate of the National Institute of Circus Arts Maya specialized in Aerial ladder, Foot juggling and Group Acrobatics. She has performed for MAXIMA, TEOC and recently completed successful seasons in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne Fringe Festivals with her ensemble devised show ‘Out of this World’, a theatrical circus comedy for young audiences. Sarah Gray Initially dreaming of having a career in architecture, Sarah Gray’s life visions dramatically transformed after seeing “Ovo” by Cirque Du Soleil, in 2013. Originally from a small rural town in Western Australia, Sarah unwittingly began her performing career at the tender age of 7, taking up acrobatics at the local dance school. The next ten years saw her learn other styles of dance including ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary and tap, but her favourite was always acrobatics. After reluctantly auditioning for the National Institute of Circus Arts, she now finds herself a graduate of the school, specializing in fixed trapeze, handstands and group acrobatics. She also is passionate about By a Thread Page 4 of 15 contortion and is continually developing her contortion skills. Sarah found circus and is now pursuing something she truly loves. Ryan Darwin At a young age Ryan Darwin threw a pair of tomatoes up in the air and has not come down since. A worldly traveller and self-trained artist, he believes you can find a way even in the most adverse circumstances to create something spectacular. Ryan is a quirky,