2002-2005 Photos
2006 Photos
2007 Photos
2008 Photos
2009 Photos

Family Dog Circus began in 2002 when Arts Victoria supported The Awakenings Festival Reach for the Stars Youth Project and invited Leesa Nash to direct a group. Leesa then approached Croxton School to develop a performance with a group of young people at the NEILS Centre.

Family Dog Circus has collaborated with artists from Ignition Theatre Training (NMIT), Westside Circus, Deakin University and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to support young performers. Performances have included physical theatre, acroblance, acrobatics, contact dance, stilt walking, puppetry, clowning, animation and improvisation.

Family Dog Circus expanded in 2006, creating an accessible lighting and sound desk to be used by the performers during performance improvisations. The training develops the relationships between the performer, the lights and the sound in an improvised performance. Performers learn how to tell stories using their own sound and movement language; and how to be their own teacher by naming and describing what they enjoy.

Family Dog Circus is now an independant theatre company, creating training & employment opportunities for youth, focussing on performers with individual learning needs. It mentors young emerging artists living with a disability. These emerging artists are supported to develop skills, then to model and share those skills as leaders at workshops and performances, as Performing and Technical Mentors (lighting and sound).

Family Dog Circus hosts the Bow WOW! Festival - an inclusive youth performing arts festival of workshops and performances.



Performances

2009

The Final Scene of Jane Doe
A collaboration between FDC, Croxton School and the
Certificate 1 In Creative Industries (Ignition Theatre Training) NMIT.
Northcote Town Hall

Darebin Youth Summit Opening Event
Preston Town Hall

Bow WOW! Festival 2009 Closing Event
Bow WOW! Festival, Northcote Town Hall

2008

Excellent
Awakenings Festival & Croxton PAL Centre

2007

That's Not A Gun, That's An Umbrella
Bow WOW! Festival 2007 & Awakenings Festival

2006

No Guns, No Zombies
Northcote Town Hall & Awakenings Festival

2005

Game Over
Awakenings Festival

Introducing Family Dog Circus
Art of Difference Festival

2004

Introducing Family Dog Circus
Awakenings Festival

2003

Jet Blue Moon
Awakenings Festival

B4U Fly Off
Art of Difference Festival

2002

B4U Fly Off
Awakenings Festival & Darebin Festival