Women’s Circus herstory shown through photographic archives, stories and memorabilia.
Melbourne’s iconic Women’s Circus will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary this November by presenting a powerful adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s, The Penelopiad and Stories in Motion Exhibition. Experience the herstory with a vibrant collection of photographic archives, oral and written stories, and memorabilia.
A vital arts organisation in the Melbourne landscape, Women’s Circus offers year-round circus and performance training programs, producing socially engaged arts projects for women and their communities. Women’s Circus is a feminist organisation dedicated to women’s individual well-being.
The Penelopiad features an ensemble of 30 members of the Women’s Circus. It explores the silence of women’s stories and the prevalence of violence against women throughout our culture. Running from the 22nd to the 27th of November, this ancient story still speaks to us today; a story that gives them speak to the voiceless within history and lets them speak, sing and dance.
The Stories In Motion exhibition will run concurrently from the 17th until the 10th of December. Returning to their original home at the Footscray Community Arts Centre, this exhibition showcases the Women’s Circus’s remarkable herstory with resources from over 30 original theatre-circus works. This exhibition is part interactive and looks to the organisation’s rich past and invites audiences to join in celebrating the exciting future ahead.
Donna Jackson founded women’s Circus in 1991 to work with women who were survivors of violence or abuse. It was initially a project of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. Twenty-five years later, the company is still proudly based in Melbourne’s vibrant West and now works with women of all ages, experience levels and cultural backgrounds and with local communities.
The organisation puts women’s stories and women centre stage and in a whole light. Executive Director Devon Taylor said, “We see the process of making art in a community setting as indelibly linked to the nature of our product, and we believe in the potential of all women to find their place, their joy, and their strength.”
Taylor also highlighted that the richness of the group stems from having such a diverse ensemble of women, ages 15 to late 60s, coming from various backgrounds and life experiences.
Women’s Circus has received numerous prestigious awards throughout its 25 years and has toured internationally, acting as an integral part of multiple festivals and conferences. The organisation is even the focus of the 2002 documentary, Leaping off the Edge.
The Penelopiad:
When: 22 – 27 November 2016
Tues – Thurs and Sat 8 pm, Fri 6 pm (Gala Performance), Sat and Sun 2 pm
Where: Drill Hall – 395 Barkly Street, West Footscray
Tickets: $30 Full, $22 Concession, $24 WC Members
Bookings: 03 9687 3665 or online
* Auslan interpreted show – Thursday 24 November 8 pm **Content Warning – Staged violence against women. Content may be distressing for some viewers. Recommended for ages 14+
Stories in Motion Exhibition Opening:
When: Thursday 17 November, 6 pm – 8 pm (All welcome!) Exhibition: Friday 18 November – Saturday 10 December
Where: Footscray Community Arts Centre Gabriel Gallery – 45 Moreland St, Footscray
