Na Djinang Circus to bring Of The Land On Which We Meet to Assembly Checkpoint House of Oz this August for the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  Created by the groundbreaking Melbourne-based circus company behind ​​Common Dissonance(2019) and Arterial (2021), acclaimed Na Djinang Circus presents Of The Land On Which We Meet – a visually stunning three-hander show that explores contemporary Australia’s lack of connection to its histories, land, and spirit.

Do we still feel the land? Do we hear its history and spirit?Set on a monochrome stage dotted with tiny pools of sand and a single illuminated picture frame, performers Johnny Brown, Bridie Hooper, and Manuela Kaydo-Nitis undertake a dream-like, deeply intimate foray into three distinctly personal stories about Country, via highly skilled circus combined with thrilling movement, contemporary dance, and theatre.

Bodies rocking effortlessly between structures and patterns shaped by both poise and franticness, and profound intimacy and solitude, Of The Land On Which We Meetsees the performers come together and apart with an otherworldly, water-like fluidity.  Characteristic of both a singular organism and a never-ending spectrum of difference, the three performers interact with each other in impressive circus feats that build high to the ceiling in complex structures; across each other’s bodies like islands; and low to the floor with a blend of physical skill and stylistic delicacy.

Probing themes of connection in modern Australia, the unseen bonds between First Nations People, and connection to Country, Of The Land On Which We Meet asks us how we can celebrate the land’s incredible 60,000+ year past and re-discover its future.

Na Djinang Circus is a Melbourne-based contemporary circus company that works with diverse young artists to share unique insights with the next generation’s Hands & Feet. Na Djinang Circus aims to develop work that utilises the next generation’s social and political attitudes and tells stories that challenge our own perceived ideas about contemporary Australian society.

Their work explores fundamental human characteristics from an Indigenous perspective, using the body to demonstrate complex human experiences of trust, connection, vulnerability, and joy. As a First Nations-led company, Na Djinang Circus’s art and ethos reflect traditional and contemporary values. They are curious, original, and unafraid to make mistakes.Na Djinang Circus believes that artists have the power to shape audiences’ opinions and create change.

Their work is thought-provoking and inspiring, encouraging audiences to challenge their assumptions and think critically about the world around them. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Na Djinang Circus is helping to create a more just and equitable society through their art.

Main Image Photo@ Tiffany Garvie