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AUSTRALIAN
CIRCUS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
the Arts Centre, Performing Arts Collection,
Melbourne
The Australian Centre, The University of Melbourne
Arna the Elephant
|
Stardust Circus
at night |
Background
Andrea Lemon is undertaking
the Australian Circus Oral History Project
as part her PhD study into Australian
circus histories and culture. Jointly
funded by the Arts Centre, Performing
Arts Collection and the Australian Centre,
The University of Melbourne this scholarship
project provides an exciting and long
overdue opportunity to investigate the
cultural history of traditional Australian
Circus from 1945 to the present day.
In many ways traditional
circus is changing rapidly, whilst in
other ways it remains strikingly similar
to 100 years ago. The older operators
and practitioners are a significant
source of unique stories, which may
soon be lost. Andrea is interviewing
traditional circus people who have been
(or still are) involved with larger
circuses, smaller circuses, and with
individual artists and support crew
throughout Australia.
When the project is finished,
the oral history interviews will be
kept in the Performing Arts Collection
as a major part of the Circus Collection,
and as a permanent resource for future
generations. Andrea is also identifying
material such as photographs, programs,
props, costumes, personal and professional
papers, and other memorabilia that may
be donated to the Circus Collection.
|
Andrea Lemon 'on
the road' |
Shae & Shania
with local Brewarrina girl
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The Partners
Andrea Lemon
Andrea comes to the
Australian Circus Oral History Project
with over 20 years experience as a researcher,
writer and director for theatre and contemporary
circus. She has also published numerous
articles and books, including Rodeo
Girls Go Round the Outside, a collection
of oral histories with Australian women
in rodeo and country music. Andrea was
the Artistic Director of the Women's Circus,
one of Australia's leading community circus
companies. She was the recipient of an
Australia Council Senior Artists' Fellowship,
and the Centenary Federation Medal for
services to the community through her
writing for theatre. Her work has won
numerous awards including AWGIE awards,
Victorian Green Room Awards, the LEND
International Exchange Award, and ABC
Radio Fringe Awards. Amongst her many
other credits, Andrea was the co-writer
and director of the acclaimed Snakehouse
Trilogy - The Serpent's Fall; Walking
On Sticks, and Tiger Country
- with Sarah Cathcart.
the Arts Centre, Performing
Arts Collection, Melbourne
The Arts Centre is
home to two significant collections
- the Performing Arts Collection which
tells the story of Australia's performing
arts history and traditions and the
Art Collection which explores the performing
arts through the work of some of Australia's
most significant visual artists. Research
plays a central role in the development
of the Collections, the creation of
exhibitions and the production of scholarly
publications.
The Performing Arts Collection
is the nation's premier specialist performing
arts collection relating to the history
of circus, dance, music, opera and theatre
in Australia. Recognised as a State
collection, it is home to over 300,000
items including costumes, designs, photographs,
programs, posters and personal papers.
For further information visit us at
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/discover_cultural-collections.aspx
The Australian Centre,
The University of Melbourne
Based within the
Faculty of Arts, The Australian Centre
has achieved national and international
recognition for its teaching and research
in Australian Studies, and for fostering
an appreciation and critical examination
of Australian society. The Centre's
interdisciplinary teaching, research
and outreach programs are committed
to investigating Australian identity
and issues of cultural and environmental
diversity, with an emphasis on forms
of public culture and public space.
For further information visit us at
http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/aboutus/index.html
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Sue and Carly Harrison
(Sole's/ Circus Startime) |
Mai and Toni Sartoni (Sole's) |
Project
Update - late 2005
Andrea has recently
undertaken 8 weeks intensive research
in northern New South Wales and throughout
Queensland, interviewing a range of artists
and circus proprietors, both past and
present. She also travelled for two weeks
with Stardust Circus, through central
Queensland and outback New South Wales,
as the circus did one and two-night stands
in towns such as Charleville, Cunnamulla,
Bourke, Brewarrina, and Lightning Ridge.
Andrea has also travelled to South Australia,
and will soon be visiting regional Victoria,
Sydney and regional New South Wales, conducting
more interviews.
For further information contact Andrea
at a.lemon@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au |
Capt. Fritz Shultz
(Wirth's/ Ashton's) |
Jonaas Zalinskas
-The Great Jonaas (Wirth's /Ashton's)
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Photographs
© Andrea Lemon
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