On Monday 25th January, Fish Creek will become a hive of circus activity for all ages when six elite circus performers and professionals descend upon the region to share their skills and expertise with our community. The day will have a carnival feel with free workshops for kids, music, and food of a daytime and a cheeky cabaret for adults in the evening. Kids circus workshops will be free including free workshops designed for young people with disability run in collaboration with local company (it’s no) drama. In the evening, The Fish Creek Hotel will host a fun filled cabaret show for adults to enjoy as they nibble on cheese boards from Berry’s Creek. It’s the perfect way to end the long weekend.
The Fish Creek Circus Day was initiated by a team of arts professionals, linked to Fish Creek, pursuing creative, fun, and physical experiences after a what has been a challenging year. The youth steering committee has worked alongside the visiting circus professionals, to curate the music and food on offer. It’s been a great opportunity for local young people to work alongside arts professionals.
“We hope to bring the joy of circus to South Gippsland. We want to energise local kids to explore the performing arts and expand their horizons within different artforms” said event organiser Dans Sheehan. Our primary goal is to bring a day of fun and joy to the community; we could all use it!”.
Schools and community groups in the district are fully behind the circus day, including (it’s no) drama and he Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival. Samara Cunningham, Artistic Director of (it’s no) drama in Leongatha said “our regional community has every right to access excellence in the performing arts, especially when the event encourages access for young people and people with diverse accessibility needs”.
The experienced team bringing the Fish Creek Circus day to life are Dans Sheehan, Samara Cunningham, Tara Silcock and Kate Fryer, with Amity Morris-Sands acting as the youth ambassador, and Linda Catalano acting as festival consultant. The youth program is supported by South Gippsland Council and the day is made with funding and support from Regional Arts Victoria and Manna Gum Community House.
The organisers hope, in the future, to build an ongoing relationship with the community and work together with local businesses and residents to build the carnival into a longer event in future that has something for everyone and allows locals and those from further afield to participate and collaborate.
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