Vulcana Circus has been an integral part of the cultural landscape of Queensland since 1995. Vulcana takes its name from a British strong woman who performed amazing feats of strength in the early part of the twentieth century. She was an early feminist, lobbying against the wearing of corsets and other restrictive clothing for women, and Vulcana is proud to take its name from this inspiring forebear of women’s circus (who could lift an adult above her head with one arm).  

Across all their performance work Vulcana aims to represent diverse stories, bodies, abilities and creative responses. Circus provides a shared physical language for people of all backgrounds to explore, express, and build connections. It contains the ideas of freedom, transgression and risk. And within the structure of circus activity is the physical reality of cooperation, exploration, trust, strength, and daring.  

 Vulcana welcomes women, trans and non-binary gendered adults, kids and teens of all genders, to its inclusive circus training, performance making projects, and community engagement programs. It is an incubator for new, emerging and professional artists who have developed their passion as practitioners, performers and teachers in this art form that offers every body a place to explore their uniqueness and their creativity. 

18 participants have met each week for 5 months to share stories, learn circus skills and create this performance piece at the Vulcana Arts Hub. This project brings together experienced and emerging artists as well as survivors of domestic abuse, some of whom are stepping on stage for the first time. Working together to build a performance that tells true stories of resilience and healing, shaped by Vulcana’s artistic director Celia White and creative Alex Mizzen.