Latest news with #FlyingFruitFlyCircus
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Flying Fruit Fly Circus expands into state-of-the-art Melbourne hub
A regional circus school will expand into Melbourne to offer more opportunities for performers across the country. After a tender process announced late last year, the Albury-based Flying Fruit Fly Circus has been awarded the head tenancy of a Victorian government-owned creative space to be located in Collingwood Yards. The space, which is set to open in October, will be renamed Circus Centre Melbourne and include two large spaces and several multi-purpose rooms for rehearsals and performances. Circus Oz is a tenant at the venue and new lease arrangements will see it occupy a smaller footprint at the site. A recruitment process for Melbourne-based staff for the centre is also underway. Albury circus performer Clancy Rosewarne said the move would give more young people the opportunity to learn physical theatre skills. "I joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus when I was three and it's really helped me learn how to work with other people in many ways," he said. Founded in 1979, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus is the country's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students. The company has grown a global reputation for producing exceptional graduates and acclaimed touring productions. Chief executive Richard Hull said the new space would provide opportunities for the circus and physical theatre sector. "This has been a rigorous public tender process and I am grateful to the Victorian government for putting its faith in Flying Fruit Fly Circus to re-imagine this stunning venue," he said. Mr Hull said the Flying Fruit Fly Circus would engage with many bodies in the circus and theatre sector to ensure the vision for the centre was realised. Artistic director Anni Davey said the facility would seek to attract performers from all over the world. "I want to see research and development and interesting, intelligent work … people … coming to Melbourne because it is the home of contemporary circus," she said. "The industry is also growing and there are opportunities, especially in Brisbane [for] the Olympic Games in 2032 and circus will be a strong focus of the cultural activities around those games." Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said the new facility would be "world-class". "Flying Fruit Fly Circus has led the charge for 45 years and bringing their vision to Melbourne through Circus Centre Melbourne is a great example of how regional arts organisations are major players in our state's creative scene," he said. Performers Matilda Devine from Sydney and Arabella Renwick from Melbourne have based themselves in Albury to practice their craft in silk performance. Ms Devine said the Melbourne centre would offer pathways to grow for anyone willing to put the work in. "If you can't get a job in circus in a specific performance style that you want, you can possibly get other opportunities in Melbourne where you can maybe direct a show or get into teaching," she said. Ms Renwick said her time in Albury has taught her the value of being an individual performer and hoped the centre would show being part of a company was not essentially for success. "I feel it's necessary that if you want to get into the arts industry, you should understand that you have a strong base and support from others to do what you want to do in circus, as long as it's safe," she said.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Youth circus sticks the landing to run Circus Oz centre
The national youth circus will take over the operation of one of Australia's biggest circus training centres, originally built for Circus Oz. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students, will operate the site at Collingwood in Melbourne, the Victorian government announced on Friday. The company is based in Albury-Wodonga and tours internationally, with graduates working in top global circuses such as Cirque du Soleil. It makes Flying Fruit Fly Circus the biggest operator of professional circus facilities in Australia, according to chief executive Richard Hull. The company entered a public tender to run the site, in part to ensure it would not be repurposed, he said. "It's about being able to secure an amazing circus facility in Melbourne for our sector and for our circus community," said Hull. "Our concern was that through this tender process, it could have been easily lost to another art form or another use altogether." The government-owned facility was originally built with Circus Oz and opened in 2014. In 2021, Circus Oz lost millions in ongoing government funding as part of the National Performing Arts Framework. The once-successful company was wound down, losing staff and cancelling projects, and has since been run on a much reduced scale. Access to the Melbourne facility for the rest of the circus community has also been limited, creating frustration and further controversy in the industry. It has not been available for hire at all since around March. Circus Oz will remain a tenant in the building, which will be named Circus Centre Melbourne. "This will be a game-changer that opens up this facility while offering programs that will strengthen the sector and support the next generation of performing artists," Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said. The hope is to use the facility to develop a world-class circus hub to rival Quebec, where Cirque du Soleil is based, and for Melbourne to regain the crown as the creative centre of Australian contemporary circus. "Circus is a very needy art form, it requires big spaces with lots of height, very expensive equipment, and a very rigorous culture of safety, you can't just do it anywhere," said Hull. For the Flying Fruit Fly Circus the move is its biggest expansion since its founding in 1979. It will recruit a Melbourne-based team to run the centre, but its full time circus school will remain in Albury. The national youth circus will take over the operation of one of Australia's biggest circus training centres, originally built for Circus Oz. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students, will operate the site at Collingwood in Melbourne, the Victorian government announced on Friday. The company is based in Albury-Wodonga and tours internationally, with graduates working in top global circuses such as Cirque du Soleil. It makes Flying Fruit Fly Circus the biggest operator of professional circus facilities in Australia, according to chief executive Richard Hull. The company entered a public tender to run the site, in part to ensure it would not be repurposed, he said. "It's about being able to secure an amazing circus facility in Melbourne for our sector and for our circus community," said Hull. "Our concern was that through this tender process, it could have been easily lost to another art form or another use altogether." The government-owned facility was originally built with Circus Oz and opened in 2014. In 2021, Circus Oz lost millions in ongoing government funding as part of the National Performing Arts Framework. The once-successful company was wound down, losing staff and cancelling projects, and has since been run on a much reduced scale. Access to the Melbourne facility for the rest of the circus community has also been limited, creating frustration and further controversy in the industry. It has not been available for hire at all since around March. Circus Oz will remain a tenant in the building, which will be named Circus Centre Melbourne. "This will be a game-changer that opens up this facility while offering programs that will strengthen the sector and support the next generation of performing artists," Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said. The hope is to use the facility to develop a world-class circus hub to rival Quebec, where Cirque du Soleil is based, and for Melbourne to regain the crown as the creative centre of Australian contemporary circus. "Circus is a very needy art form, it requires big spaces with lots of height, very expensive equipment, and a very rigorous culture of safety, you can't just do it anywhere," said Hull. For the Flying Fruit Fly Circus the move is its biggest expansion since its founding in 1979. It will recruit a Melbourne-based team to run the centre, but its full time circus school will remain in Albury. The national youth circus will take over the operation of one of Australia's biggest circus training centres, originally built for Circus Oz. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students, will operate the site at Collingwood in Melbourne, the Victorian government announced on Friday. The company is based in Albury-Wodonga and tours internationally, with graduates working in top global circuses such as Cirque du Soleil. It makes Flying Fruit Fly Circus the biggest operator of professional circus facilities in Australia, according to chief executive Richard Hull. The company entered a public tender to run the site, in part to ensure it would not be repurposed, he said. "It's about being able to secure an amazing circus facility in Melbourne for our sector and for our circus community," said Hull. "Our concern was that through this tender process, it could have been easily lost to another art form or another use altogether." The government-owned facility was originally built with Circus Oz and opened in 2014. In 2021, Circus Oz lost millions in ongoing government funding as part of the National Performing Arts Framework. The once-successful company was wound down, losing staff and cancelling projects, and has since been run on a much reduced scale. Access to the Melbourne facility for the rest of the circus community has also been limited, creating frustration and further controversy in the industry. It has not been available for hire at all since around March. Circus Oz will remain a tenant in the building, which will be named Circus Centre Melbourne. "This will be a game-changer that opens up this facility while offering programs that will strengthen the sector and support the next generation of performing artists," Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said. The hope is to use the facility to develop a world-class circus hub to rival Quebec, where Cirque du Soleil is based, and for Melbourne to regain the crown as the creative centre of Australian contemporary circus. "Circus is a very needy art form, it requires big spaces with lots of height, very expensive equipment, and a very rigorous culture of safety, you can't just do it anywhere," said Hull. For the Flying Fruit Fly Circus the move is its biggest expansion since its founding in 1979. It will recruit a Melbourne-based team to run the centre, but its full time circus school will remain in Albury. The national youth circus will take over the operation of one of Australia's biggest circus training centres, originally built for Circus Oz. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students, will operate the site at Collingwood in Melbourne, the Victorian government announced on Friday. The company is based in Albury-Wodonga and tours internationally, with graduates working in top global circuses such as Cirque du Soleil. It makes Flying Fruit Fly Circus the biggest operator of professional circus facilities in Australia, according to chief executive Richard Hull. The company entered a public tender to run the site, in part to ensure it would not be repurposed, he said. "It's about being able to secure an amazing circus facility in Melbourne for our sector and for our circus community," said Hull. "Our concern was that through this tender process, it could have been easily lost to another art form or another use altogether." The government-owned facility was originally built with Circus Oz and opened in 2014. In 2021, Circus Oz lost millions in ongoing government funding as part of the National Performing Arts Framework. The once-successful company was wound down, losing staff and cancelling projects, and has since been run on a much reduced scale. Access to the Melbourne facility for the rest of the circus community has also been limited, creating frustration and further controversy in the industry. It has not been available for hire at all since around March. Circus Oz will remain a tenant in the building, which will be named Circus Centre Melbourne. "This will be a game-changer that opens up this facility while offering programs that will strengthen the sector and support the next generation of performing artists," Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said. The hope is to use the facility to develop a world-class circus hub to rival Quebec, where Cirque du Soleil is based, and for Melbourne to regain the crown as the creative centre of Australian contemporary circus. "Circus is a very needy art form, it requires big spaces with lots of height, very expensive equipment, and a very rigorous culture of safety, you can't just do it anywhere," said Hull. For the Flying Fruit Fly Circus the move is its biggest expansion since its founding in 1979. It will recruit a Melbourne-based team to run the centre, but its full time circus school will remain in Albury.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Youth circus sticks the landing to run Circus Oz centre
The national youth circus will take over the operation of one of Australia's biggest circus training centres, originally built for Circus Oz. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia's only full-time circus school for primary and secondary students, will operate the site at Collingwood in Melbourne, the Victorian government announced on Friday. The company is based in Albury-Wodonga and tours internationally, with graduates working in top global circuses such as Cirque du Soleil. It makes Flying Fruit Fly Circus the biggest operator of professional circus facilities in Australia, according to chief executive Richard Hull. The company entered a public tender to run the site, in part to ensure it would not be repurposed, he said. "It's about being able to secure an amazing circus facility in Melbourne for our sector and for our circus community," said Hull. "Our concern was that through this tender process, it could have been easily lost to another art form or another use altogether." The government-owned facility was originally built with Circus Oz and opened in 2014. In 2021, Circus Oz lost millions in ongoing government funding as part of the National Performing Arts Framework. The once-successful company was wound down, losing staff and cancelling projects, and has since been run on a much reduced scale. Access to the Melbourne facility for the rest of the circus community has also been limited, creating frustration and further controversy in the industry. It has not been available for hire at all since around March. Circus Oz will remain a tenant in the building, which will be named Circus Centre Melbourne. "This will be a game-changer that opens up this facility while offering programs that will strengthen the sector and support the next generation of performing artists," Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said. The hope is to use the facility to develop a world-class circus hub to rival Quebec, where Cirque du Soleil is based, and for Melbourne to regain the crown as the creative centre of Australian contemporary circus. "Circus is a very needy art form, it requires big spaces with lots of height, very expensive equipment, and a very rigorous culture of safety, you can't just do it anywhere," said Hull. For the Flying Fruit Fly Circus the move is its biggest expansion since its founding in 1979. It will recruit a Melbourne-based team to run the centre, but its full time circus school will remain in Albury.
