Collaborators
Aliya Abisheva, Associate Artist
Ellie Cox, Performer
Began her path tumbling towards the stage as a young gymnast with a love for flipping through the air at speed. Ellie discovered circus through Circa’s youth troupe, Circa Zoo at the age of 13 where she utilised her gymnastic experience to climb and weave her way to great heights through the medium of Chinese pole, group acrobatics and creative movement. Ellie attended The National Institute of Circus Arts based in Melbourne. In her time at NICA, Ellie focussed on hand-balancing and partner acrobatics. Ellie now takes pride in sharing her performances with as many people as she can and joined the Ensemble of Company2 in 2017.
Alex Mizzen, Performer and Co Director
As a trained gymnast and a graduate from the National Theatre Ballet, Alex worked as a contemporary dancer, honing both her physical and performance skill before turning her eye to circus. Now as an established circus artist with specialties in both hand balance and aerials Alex has worked with some of the leading Australian & international companies. Alex’s work is heavily influenced by this rich movement background and so ensues a particular style which has been recognized across a range of platforms since 2010. This was acknowledged in 2015 when Alex was awarded an Arts Queensland grant to further research her unique intersection of dance and circus. In conjunction with 15 years teaching experience in dance, yoga and circus, Alex is currently working with The Flying Fruit Fly Circus & CIRCA Zoo, facilitating emerging artists in this very same process of uncovering their own creative voice.
Kate Malone, Wunderage Producer, projects and Company collaberator
I am an excellent problem solver. I always remain calm under pressure & am never daunted by any challenge large or small. I’ve spent the past 15 years working across a range of roles within Queensland Arts delivering events, festivals, shows in theatres, tents and open air.
I love to focus on outcomes for our artists and this means the business of planning, scheduling, developing relationships/ networking, working to a budget & offering leadership.
As a Producer, I’ve worked extensively around Australia and internationally with Casus Circus, Company 2, Briefs Factory International, Hoopla Clique, Flipside Circus and Woodford Folk Festival.
Brisbane is now a world leader in circus arts & the joy of spreading the world and working to get great prestigious gigs is a daily challenge. I get a kick and much satisfaction out of watching the audience enjoy the end product!
Alex Weckeshuck, Performer
From a young age Alex had a passion for climbing trees, door frames, lamp posts and anything that posed a challenge. At the age of 11 this was put to good use when he began participating in youth circus classes with Flipside Circus, learning to channel those energetic leaps and twitches into an art form. Alex performed with Flipside’s youth Performance Troupe for 6 years, and in his later years began to create independent solo and ensemble work. Alex has since travelled overseas to experience the world beyond Australian circus. In this time abroad when he wasn’t playing the sightseeing tourist, Alex was creating a show with fellow acrobats and learning new skills and techniques along the way. Most recently Alex trained at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne, where he furthered his specialist skills in trapeze and partner acrobatics. Alex joined the Ensemble of Company2 in 2017.
Jessica McCrindle, Performer
A multi-talented circus artist specialising in Tightwire, Hula hoops and Acrobatics. Jess began her circus career in Tasmanian youth circus ‘Slipstream Circus’ while also succeeding as a gymnast -representing Tasmania at National Levels Championships. She is a graduate of NICA and trained clown at Ecole Phillipe Gaulier, and Tightwire at Academie Fratellini both in Paris. Performance highlights include touring and performing with Company2, Circus Monoxide, Circus Quirkus, and The Stupendous Spots and performing for Wired Stunts, Brophy Aerial theatre, Strut’n’fret, Circa, The Tiny Tops, and Circus Oz.
Jacqueline Furey, Performer and Collaberator
Bridie Hooper, Performer
An interdisciplinary artist, integrating circus, movement and physical theatre embarking on multi-faceted cerebral explorations of ego, torment, catharsis and mortality - translated into physical dialogue and symbolism, to celebrate the fortitude of the intricate human spirit. Through visceral inquiry and exploitation of effort, Bridie’s practice greets self-opposition and contradiction both theoretically, physically and artistically- introducing tension, complexity and reflection to her work.
Bridie has been training, performing and creating circus for over 15 years. In 2012 she completed her studies at École Nationale de Cirque in Montréal, and went on to work with acclaimed show “DUMMY” by Germanys GOP Variété Cabaret, before joining internationally renowned Circa Contemporary Circus in 2013. Upon joining Circa, Bridie was involved in collaborations with quartets, operas and orchestras, performed internationally in 28 countries to over 450,000 people and was integral in the creation of 9 debut works, including Humans, En Masse, The Return and Beyond.
In 2019 Bridie worked alongside Yaron Lifschitz as choreographer and associate circus director on the Circa/Opera Queensland collaboration of Orpheus & Eurydice. In April 2021 Bridie produced, created and performed her first solo show, Ingress, premiering at the Judith Wright Arts Centre in Brisbane
Phoebe Armstrong, Artistic Associate & Performer
Phoebe started circus at the age of six at Spaghetti Circus, an Australian youth circus. In 2010, Phoebe completed a two-year circus degree at Centre de les Arts del Circ Rogelio Rivel in Barcelona. In 2012 she formed the company, Amnoticos, with Toni Gutierrez and performed their widely-acclaimed duo trapeze act across Europe and Australia. In 2014, Phoebe joined the internationally, renowned circus company CIRCA, touring all over the world. Phoebe joined Company2 in 2017 and has taken part in all productions to date. In 2021, Phoebe has moved from ensemble member to Artistic Associate. Alongside her extensive career in the Arts, Phoebe holds a BA in Media & Communications (University of Melbourne), a Masters of Applied Anthropology & Participatory Development (ANU) and a Grad Cert in Policy & Governance (QUT).
Skip Walker-Milne, Performer
Skip began his circus training at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne, Australia. There he completed a Bachelor of Circus Arts in 2012. He then went on to tour with the renowned contemporary circus company Circa. Since 2015, Skip has been touring, creating and performing with Australian circus legends, Company2. Skip harbours a great passion for helping others to learn and continue his own learning through various forms of engagement and sharing. He is constantly impressed by the seemingly limitless capabilities of people’s bodies and minds.
Grant Arthur, Musical Director & Performer
Grant is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, producer and circus performer based in Melbourne, Australia. Known for his versatility, you'll find Grant in a surprisingly diverse array of musical situations - from playing dixieland trombone with jazz masters, hard driving bluegrass banjo, funky New Orleans sousaphone to singing country folk - sometimes all in the same day! Having played with C.W. Stoneking, Christa Hughes, Freya Josephine Hollick, Geoff Bull, The Horns of Leroy and many others, Grant is a reliable and exciting sideman across an array of instruments. He also co-created and composed for many of his own projects including The Cope Street Parade, Collingwood Casanovas, King Arthur and many more. Grant was part of the original cast of the circus show Limbo. He composed and arranged much of the show's musical accompaniment. He toured internationally with this show for three years, including London’s West End, Sydney Festival, The Ibero-American Theatre Festival of Bogota and Just For Laughs in Montreal.
Bonnie Stewart, Musician & Performer
Bonnie is a musician, improvisor and composer, Bonnie was drawn to Australia’s definitive sound in the creative jazz scene, and moved from Dublin to Sydney in 2012. Featuring on drums, percussion and vocals, Bonnie is actively involved in a mix of self-led and collaborative projects such as Bonnie Songs, Crossover, Rebel Scum, Pheno, Prophets and the Splinter Orchestra. Bonnie completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in jazz performance on the drums at Newpark Music Centre, Dublin in 2010. She was awarded a travel and training grant from the Irish Arts council to participate in the School of Improvised Music workshop in New York in 2011. She was also awarded a full scholarship in 2009 to attend a summer intensive workshop at Berklee School of Music in Boston. Bonnie was most recently awarded a scholarship to attend the Australian Art Orchestra Creative Music Intensive in Tasmania in 2016.
Teisha Hinsch, Performer and Collaberator
Kane Peterson, Tightwire Rigger & Performer
Is a globe-trotting circus performer, highwire stunt artist, physical comedian, MC, director and teacher. He is one half of the tightwire company – “Wired Stunts” with his partner Jessica McCrindle. Together they have captivated audiences across Europe, NZ, and Australia. He has created outstanding comedy and physical theatre performances, which have toured the globe. He is a rigger and master of the high wire. He has also achived one of the highest walks ever to be perfromed in Australia.
Danik Abishov, Performer
Danik Abishev is truly a global performer. Born into a traditional Russian circus family, Danik began performing at the age of four. As part of the Soviet Union state circuses, he toured China and the title of Honoured Artists of Russia. His family relocated to Brisbane and Danik continued his worldwide domination of performance arts. After working with hip-hop group Tom Tom Crew in the Middle East and South America, Danik charmed the people of Oz in Australia’s Got Talent. Danik later went on to perform in Le Perle at Dubai’s Al Habtoor City and Blanc de Blanc in Las Vagas. Danik joined Chelsea McGuffin in 2020.
Josh Sherrin, NCM Producer Le Coup
Ben Harrison, Musician & Performer
Ben Harrison is a Melbourne based multi-instrumentalist and composer. He specialises in trumpet and mandolin but also plays banjo, violin and guitar. He studied improvisation at the VCA and has performed all over the world with a variety of musical ensembles, including the Edinburgh Fringe with LE COUP and all throughout Japan with The Lagerphones. The variety of musical situations he involves himself with have helped him carve his own unique musical voice within the Melbourne music scene.
Katherine Quigley, Azul Producer
Katherine Quigley is the: Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of Backbone Youth Arts; Executive Producer, Chelsea McGuffin; Lecturer, Jazz Music Institute and a freelance grant-writer and Producer. As part of the inaugural cohort of NIDA’s MFA in Cultural Leadership, Katherine received a coveted scholarship sponsored by the Ministry of Arts. Prior to this she studied Accounting (QUT, Grad Cert.), Creative Industries (QUT, Drama/Film/Music BA) as well as many other industry based professional development courses. In 2019 Katherine was one of 15 young leaders selected from Australia & India to participate in the Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD) to deepen the bi-lateral relationship between Australia and India. Katherine specialises in producing collaborative, experimental, multi-arts cultural experiences. Throughout her 20 year career she has produced festivals, international conferences, experimental Chinese Opera, theatre, circus, numerous gigs and exhibitions and countless community workshop programs. She has worked across the world and is passionate about expanding and deepening our understanding of cultures through arts experiences. She started her career at Backbone at age 13.
Alicia Maccarone, Performer
Casey Douglas, Head Rigger & Performer
Right from the beginning Casey was an active child playing all sports possible, leading him to ten years as a competitive gymnast. After completing his degree at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), he received a grant for a training project in Chattellaraut, France where he completed further studies with seven Handstand Professors from around the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC). On returning to Melbourne, Casey ran Hardy Street Productions, a Circus Training and Arts Centre before becoming a founding member of ThisSideUp Acrobatics. Casey toured with the Circa Ensemble in 2010 and toured extensively until 2016. Casey joined Company2 in 2017.
Marianna Joslin, Performer
Was born with a big personality and a broken heart. Twice, at six and thirteen years of age, Marianna underwent open-heart surgery,which unleashed the energyto match hervivacious nature. Vulcana Women’s circus ignited her love of circus as a young adult. Marianna has since trained and performed with, and alongside, elite circus artists in Australia and abroad. Marianna launched her career as a founding member of the Ice Cream Factory Collective, an innovative Australian circus hub, and performer for Hoopla Clique and Twisted Hitch. Paving the way to her avant-garde one woman show, All Class. After which she was the principal artist for Robotronicia, a circus-robotics collaboration. In 2016 Marianna begun touring with her partner Casey. Key highlights include a documentary with This Side Up, performing for the hit show Yummy, the famed Brunswick Picture House, touring with Circus Quirkus and a sell-out season of the Sydney Opera House premiere production Funatorium: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
David Trappes, Musician & Performer
David fell in love with circus from a young age, growing up in the youth performance troupe of Flipside Circus, who are based in Brisbane. His creativity took to it like a fish in water which inspired him to travel overseas and continue his training. He has worked for leading companies such as Circus Oz, Casus as well as creating solo works and independent productions. He spends most of his circus life lifting and moving heavy objects like people and bowling balls but also enjoys standing on his head and playing music. David joined Company2 in 2019 for Wunderage, a Company2 and Circus Oz tightwire collaboration. He has since joined the Le Coup cast and is thrilled to be working with such a great bunch of people.
Serik Abisheva, Performer, Set maker and Trainer
We would like to acknowledge all the artists and creatives that we have ever collaborated with and thank them for their dedication, passion and generosity.
Including but not limited to:
Katie Sweeney - Sound Engineer
Johanna May - Writer and inspiration
Teisha Hinsch - Performing Artist
Ethan Hugh - Performing Artist
Mik Lavage - Sound Engineer and Photographer
Charles Wiles - Producer