WITHIN THESE WALLS
About the show
Sink into the unsettling on 12 - 16 September 2023. In an eerie world of familiar objects and enormous walls, where fears grow into mental monsters, and there seems to be no escape..
Do we freeze, fight, fawn or flee?
WITHIN THESE WALLS conjures the question of how we cope when the world around us suddenly changes. Our ability to reframe our perspective can transform the ugliest of things, into strangely beautiful expressions of the human condition.
Exploring this vulnerable process through circus and theatre, the ultimate challenge is revealed; what happens when we look our fear in the eyes? Can the two of us exist at once?
WITHIN THESE WALLS is directed by Katie Cawthorne, a renowned Australian theatre maker and co-founder of The Anchor Theatre Company, with dramaturgy by Sebastien Neo Pasche (Circus Under My Bed by Flying Fruit Fly Circus). A combination well-versed in provoking and summoning the hidden emotional poetry from unassuming scenes.
The intriguing domestic set is designed by Eloise Kent (Eclipse, NICA 2022 and The Darkening Sky, Theatre Works 2022), and illuminated by Kris Chainey’s lighting design (Circonoclasm and Made to Measure, NICA 2022), to a soundscape crafted by Ian Moorhead (SLAP. BANG. KISS. Melbourne Theatre Company 2022) and brought to life through expert costuming by Laurel Frank (Circus Oz, founding member) with the unwavering support of the Melbourne Polytechnic costume and makeup students. The stage is poised for the thrilling, the frightening, and the astonishing.
Expect feats of contortion and swinging aerials layered in remarkable acrobatic storytelling. WITHIN THESE WALLS is unravelled by a unique, dexterous and highly skilled cohort of second year students, itching to thrill and surprise audiences with their debut performance.
EVENT INFO
Bookings:
Via Trybooking
Tickets between $18 - $40
Performances:
Tuesday 12 September 7.30pm (Preview)
Wednesday 13 September 7.30pm (Opening Night)
Thursday 14 September 7.30pm
Friday 15 September 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday 16 September 2:00pm
Saturday 16 September 7:300pm SOLD OUT
Duration:
75 minutes
Location:
The National Institute of Circus Arts
39-59 Green Street, Prahran
Rated:
PG – Recommended 12+ years
Explores themes of anxiety, suspense, and fear. May contain loud music and smoke haze.
THE AMAZING CAST
Anais Stewart
PERFORMER
Gabriel Walker
PERFORMER
Gemma Jackson
PERFORMER
Jasmin Tait
PERFORMER
Jasmine Poniris
PERFORMER
Jesse Holden
PERFORMER
Krystal Meakins
PERFORMER
Kyle Fowler
PERFORMER
Luca Trimboli
PERFORMER
Max Neal
PERFORMER
Merlene Hutt
PERFORMER
Rose Symons
PERFORMER
Taylor Vogt
PERFORMER
Tyson Wallent
PERFORMER
Zaelea Nolte
PERFORMER
THE PRODUCTION
Director
Katie Cawthorne
Dramaturg
Sebastien Pasche
Lighting Designer
Kris Chainey
Composer/Sound Designer
Ian Moorhead
Set Designer
Eloise Kent
Costume Designer
Laurel Frank
Show Riggers
Andrew Dyson & Christian Schooneveldt-Reid
Stage Manager
Lucie Sutheland
NICA in-house Rigger
Kyle Rafferty
Head Electrician
Kris Chainey
Safety Officer
Antonella Casella
Production Manager
Scott Grayland
Digital Technologies Coordinator
Kaleb Hawkins
LX Operator
Kris Chainey
Sound Operator
Charlie Farmer
Wardrobe Supervisor
Kiara Martin
Front of House Manager
Anna Fisher
Bar Manager
Samuel Boyd
Campaign & Show Photography
Cameron Grant, Parenthesy
Photoshoot Makeup Artist
Lucy Stephens
Video Documentation
Masterworks Media Production
NICA ED
Head of Circus Studies
James Brown
Senior Educator – Academic
Tegan Carmichael & Valentina La Piana (acting)
Performance Studies Coordinator
Katie Cawthorne
Dance & Movement Convenor
Linda Sastradipradja
3rd Year Coordinator
Martine Howard
2nd Year Coordinator
Alexander Gullan
1st Year Coordinator
Emily Hughes
Certificate IV Coordinator
Hannah Trott
Alumni Industry & Engagement Coordinator
Natalie Frijia
PSA Dance Coordinator
Merryn Tierney
Circus Teachers
Earl Shatford, Gang (Charlie) Cheng, Helene Embling, Jess Love, Jon Griffingham, Mark Douglass, Mireille (Mimi) Goyette, Rong Lu, Siarhei (Serge) Sharapayeu, Vasily Ivanov, Jian Nei, Felicia O'Brien & Marco Paoletti.
Sessional Circus Teachers
Staniforth Ricketson, Soliana Ersie, Brett Franzi.
Anatomy & Physiology
Dr David Munro
Business Studies
Mark Douglass
Circus History
Antonella Casella
Technical Studies
Earl Shatford
Dance Administrator
Jenny Vanderhorst
EXECUTIVE & ADMIN
Director
Simona Jobbagy
Operations Manager (Human Resources)
Emily O’Connor
Operations Manager (Facilities & Resources)
Sonya Curry
Operations Manager (Commercial)
Paula McKaskill
Executive Officer
Josephine Byrt
Senior Finance Officer
Faye Stathakis
Senior Administration Coordinator
Anne Young
NICA Represents Agents
Melenie Stevenson & Samuel Boyd
Marketing & Communications Manager
Karen Leskiw
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Halina Powierza
Social Media Support
Jeff Young
NICA Rec Administration Assistants
Emil Gross & Jessie Shook
NICA Administration Assistants
Sebastien Pasche & Angela Ortiz Jaramillo
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to Circus Oz and Nexus Circus for their in-kind support, and to the costume design students from Melbourne Polytechnic for their collaboration on the project.
DONATE TO NICA
NICA is Australia’s Centre of Excellence for training in contemporary circus arts. It is one of eight national arts training institutes. By donating to NICA, you will make a difference to the lives of our students and the future of circus in Australia. All donations over $2 are tax deductible..
donate nowACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) humbly acknowledges the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional Custodians and knowledge-holders of the lands on which we create and, learn. We recognize that sovereignty has never been ceded, and we pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We extend our sincere acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, partners and visitors, who have contributed to NICA's success, diversity and growth.