audition

for the ECLIPSE ensemble (for ages 15-22)

Open to all young people keen to pursue an experience in circus and physical theatre performing. If you are training in  circus, dance, theatre, gymnastics, cheer, parkour or martial arts and want to put these skills to use in performance such as Eclipse, then this is for you.

You don’t have to Train at CircusWA to participate in this production. We encourage all students to train in a centre and environment that best serves their interests and skills development. All Eclipse training  Intensives and performance developments will be held in Fremantle with one training tour planned for Melbourne in July 2026

What is Eclipse about?

Told through the vision and imagination of CircusWA’s Academy youth performers, ECLIPSE is a gateway into what our future could, should and might just be. Through explorations of unity and diversity, balance and disharmony, trust and compromise, these young artists explore our humanity and our fragility, and develop a future they dream for themselves.

Conceived in WA by Sally Richardson, this work was first developed in 2022 by graduatng students at Australia’s Natonal Insitute of Circus Arts (NICA) in Melbourne. In 2024, with the ongoing support of NICA, we will continue to development this into a full youth production.

Over the next 18 months CircusWA will grow this national work to be performed by local diverse youth and in exchange with professional performers from NICA. We hope to have the final production of Eclipse presented by the middle of 2026.

AUDITION DETAILS

Sunday 1st September 3-5pm
The Freo Big Top, 90 Adelaide St, Fremantle

 

How will you prepare for the audition?

No prep: Just come with your skills and ability, your ideas and imagination. And bring a water bottle and snacks if you’re someone who needs fuel

What should I expect during the audition?

i) welcome and introduction to everyone in the space

ii) warm up the body

iii) group activities – discussing, sharing, problem solving

iv) presentation of a group act created together

Submit a REGISTRATION FORM by 26th August

For more info or to discuss
Jo Smith 0435 374 492 | jo@circuswa.com

 

Register Here

 

youth Circus academy

Together we create

The Level Up Academy is WA’s only circus academy giving ambitious young people access to high level training in circus skills and physical theatre making and testing these skills inside production outcomes.

The Academy creates a springboard into real pathways and opportunities in the performing arts industry, including community and contemporary circus, stunt work, theatre arts, dance, and technical production – with rippling impacts locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Level Up Circus Academy supports young people to be ambitious and follow pathways to a career in circus and physical theatre.

Underpinning the Academy is a focus on nurturing physical and emotional safety so risk taking and creativity can bloom. Through our productions we engage with socially relevant topics and work with teams of guest artists to create productions which are challenging and transformative for both audiences and performers.

The academy is made up of Two Streams – a DEVELOPMENT stream for children aged 10-14yrs and the PERFORMANCE stream for young people aged 15-22yrs.  Also embedded into the Academy are two priority streams which offer unique support and training pathways for Aboriginal youth and young people living with a disability:

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE STREAM

This stream is made up of young people who are physically and creatively ambitious youth.  Performers in this troupe are chosen based on their physical skills in circus, gymnastics, dance or parkour, as well as their commitment to performance making.

In this stream  students train twice a week as an ensemble. Mid week they focus on core strength and circus skills (partner/group acrobatics, teeterboard, tumbling) and on Sundays focus on physical theatre and creating new productions. The program is designed to prepare students for entry into specialist training institutions nationally and internationally, and is a pathway to production companies in WA such as Fliptease and MAXIMA Circus.

The ensemble also participate in one tour – either a training, development or performance tour – which gives them an opportunity to meet other circus performers their age and familiarise them with other training centres and production companies around Australia.

Weekly Training Expectations

AT THE FREO BIG TOP

  • Thursday Academy Foundations  (2hrs)
  • Friday open troupe training – this is voluntarily attended (2hrs)
  • Sunday performance training (3hrs)

SPECIALIST SKILL TRAINING:

  • min 1 specialist skills class of students choice (this can be undertaken at any approved training centre)

ADDITIONAL HOURS:

Across the year expect between 50-100 additional hrs for rehearsals and performances. The Annual program will be presented after the Auditions. We ask all students to agree to these expectations.

PERFORMANCES:

The number of  shows varies every year. Expect a minimum of two productions and one smaller Academy presentation show each year.

Cost

  • $1,600 per year – covers 40weeks of training (7.5hrs/wk) and participation in intensives, rehearsals and performances
  • 40% off all skills classes at the Freo Big Top
  • *There are additional costs to join tours with the costs as subsidised as we can make them through funding

Leviathan by C!rca performed with CircusWA youth troupe 2019 – image provided by Circa

 

Uglieland 1923 performed for Boorloo Heritage Festival and Fremantle International Street Arts Festival 2023 – image by Tashi Hall

 

Eclipse in partnership with NICA (National Institute of Circus Arts) 2023 – image by Edwin Sitt

 

Ungrounded by Jens Altheimer 2020 – image by Tashi Hall

 


DEVELOPMENT STREAM (for 10-14yrs)

This is our stream where students who are interested in performing and exploring their circus skills further without a large investment. This stream meets weekly on Sundays to improve their ensemble skills, explore aspects of performance and learn how circus acts are assembled. The Development Stream performs at a variety of community events and festivals some of which include Perth’s Boorloo Heritage Festival, International Street Arts Festival and Fremantle Long Table Dinner.

Weekly Training Expectations

  • 1 specialist skills class a week (at any training facility)
  • Fridays open troupe training (non-compulsory) – 2hrs
  • Sundays performance training (compulsory) – 2hrs

Cost

  • $300 per term covers all the trainings on Friday and Sunday
  • All Academy Participants receive 40% off all skills classes at the Freo Big Top
  • The performances do not carry any additional costs