Act devising for Subversive Performance with Leah Shelton ^expired Free

This Circus Oz masterclass program with Leah will focus on devising short solo and duo circus acts. It will explore how to simultaneously entertain and provoke your audience. Particular attention will be paid to processes for creating politically subversive work. It will involve unpacking act structure; analysing case studies; experimenting with different performance styles; and devising new material. In addition, Leah will bring her background in physical theatre training for contemporary performance to the program - her unique mash up of contemporary dance, Suzuki actor training method, pole dance, physical comedy, lip-sync, puppetry, drag etc in rigorous, structured training sessions that will involve sweat, guts and glory.

This workshop is open to female, female-identifying and non-binary circus artists.

Participants will have up to one and half hours each morning for their individual training requirements.

EOI due: 8 July

Please send a 200 word statement on how you would like to develop your act, along with a link to video of your primary act, and a current cv, to [email protected].

Masterclass dates: Sat-Wed Aug 24 to Sept 4, 9am to 4.30pm. (Days off Thurs and Fri)

Where: Circus Oz, 35 Johnston St, Collingwood

Assistance with interstate travel within Australia is available, when relevant, for selected participants.

About Leah

Psycho-siren Leah Shelton creates stylized, guttural, renegade feminist work soaked in cult references and dark humour. Her work has taken her from the glamour of Las Vegas to the back streets of Kings Cross, from rigorous training in Japan to live art festivals in New York. She is Co-Director of artist collective Polytoxic, one of the most prominent contemporary Pacific theatre companies in Australia.

As a solo artist, she has graced the cabaret stages of La Clique, Club Briefs, Little Death Club and Vegas Nocturne. Leah’s premiere solo work Terror Australis has received numerous awards and in 2019 will tour throughout France. Leah’s most recent work, Bitch On Heat, directed by UK Performance Art luminary Ursula Martinez, premiered to critical acclaim. The Age, in a 4.5 star review, said of the work: “doesn’t waste a single moment - a transfixing combination of fierce intellect, intense presence and bold physical comedy.”