Table of Contents
Preface
Weaving the Tapestry Jen Jordan
Writing the Story of the Women’s Circus Adrienne Liebmann
Women’s Circus Aims and Objectives
I THE BEGINNING
Being “The Other” Donna Jackson
An Herstorical Perspective Jean Taylor
Taking Over the Butter House Patricia Sykes
How the Circus Works Patricia Sykes & Adrienne Liebmann
One Woman’s Journey Adrienne Liebmann
Why the Women’s Circus is Feminist Theatre Jules De Cinque
Is the Women’s Circus a Feminist Enterprise? Alison Richards
The Women’s Circus and Other Religions Maralann Damiano
The Phenomenon of the Women’s Circus Karen Martin
II THE WOMEN
Chance Jude Johns
Meet the Women Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Survivors Speak
The Journey Towards Healing Jen Jordan
Fragment 1: Map 42 Nadia Angelini
A Survivor Within the Circus Linda Wilson
Fragment 2: Map 42 Nadia Angelini
Support Group: Tower of Strength Helen North
Speaking Out Linda Wilson
Fragment 3: Map 42 Nadia Angelini
In Memory of Jen Jordan Linda Wilson
The Web (for Jen Jordan) Patricia Sykes
A Question of Cultural Diversity
Immigrant Women Vig Geddes
Crossing Cultural Barriers: Interview Celena Catipovski/Louise Radcliffe-Smith
The Same Chance Franca Stadler
Trapeze Susan Hawthorne
Crossing Age Barriers: Women Over Forty
Life After Youth Patricia Sykes
Contrary Mary Joins The Women’s Circus Patricia Sykes
Spin-Offs
Poems from the Body Patricia Sykes
The Performing Older Women’s Circus Jean Taylor
Masks Susan Hawthorne
Act/Don’t Act Your Age Patricia Sykes
Beating the Negative Self-Talk Andrea Ousley
Taking New Directions Loreen Visser
The Juggonauts Lynette Mackenzie
Images of Strength Naomi Herzog
Circus Art Nicole Hunter
Making Music Kylie Whyte
From Techie to Production Manager Dori Dragon
Meeting Deadlines Mandy Grinblat
The Sky’s the Limit: Interview Cathy Johnstone/Louise Radcliffe-Smith
III THE WOMEN’S CIRCUS AT WORK
The Whole Woman: Training
Learning to Leap Off The Edge Jen Jordan
Nuts and Bolts
Introducing Sally Forth
Mind, Body and Spirit Sally Forth
Game of Balance Patricia Sykes
Four Seasons Recipes Sally Forth
Four Seasons Exercises Sally Forth
Passing on Knowledge: The Trainers
Letting the Individual Shine Lee Mohtaji
Juggling with Rhythm and Soul Kymberlyn Olsen
Juggle Art Patricia Sykes
How to Make Juggling Balls Louise Radcliffe-Smith
How to Juggle Kymberlyn Olsen & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Stick Manipulation Melissa Idles
Club Swinger Kathryn Niesche
Singing with the Body Helen Sharp
Sports Acrobat Dorota Scally
The Trainers: Physical, Musical, Technical
The Strength is in the Doing: The Trainees
The Circus as a Metaphor Adrienne Liebmann
Cleaning Up the Playground Patricia Sykes
Whip-carrying Women Fi Bowie
Skate Away Jean Taylor
Specialist Training Workshops
How to be a Stupid Patricia Sykes
Training the Trainer Louise Radclife-Smith
Specialist Trainers
Music
Music Training Jean Taylor & members of the Music Group
I’ll Count You In Members of the Music Group
Labour Exchange Elizabeth Grady & Judith Shapland
Crews: All in a Day’s Work
Newsletter Crew Deb Lewis
Child-care Crew Jules De Cinque
Small Gigs
For a Variety of Causes Jean Taylor
Moomba Madness Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Barges Bridget Roberts
Circus Barge Patricia Sykes
IV IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Pre-performance
Research Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Rehearsal Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Musical Chairs Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Tech Talk Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Venues: Claiming the Space Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Costume and Design Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Pre-performance Crews Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Performance Crews Deb Lewis
What Will We Wear? Kylie Whyte
Performance
Performance Patricia Sykes
Big Gigs Deb Lewis
Feeling Well During the Performance Sally Forth
Security: Locked Up Tight Deb Lewis
Behind the Scenes
The Technical Crew Georgina Clarsen
Breaking Down the Mystery: Interview Rosie Finn/Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Lights, Cable, Action Maureen O’Connor
An Eye for Safety Ursula Dutkiewicz
A Designer’s View Wendy Black
Capturing the Raw Energy Vivienne Méhes & Alison Richards
Musical Chairs
Hitting the High Notes Jean Taylor & members of the Music Group
Musical Notes Zen Atkinson
One Octave at a Time Marianne Permezel
Keeping the Beat: Interview Sharon Follett/Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Front of the House
Up Front Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Merchandising Louise Radcliffe-Smith
She Has the Answer: Interview Marg Dobson/Louise Radcliffe-Smith
The Cents Behind the Circus Mandy Grinblat
Think Lateral: When there’s no budget Georgine Clarsen
The Shows
1991, Women and Institutions Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
1992, Women and Work Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Trust Mavis Thorpe Clark
Work Rachel
Work Cathy Johnstone
1993, Women and Sport Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
1994, Death: The Musical Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
The Dead Susan Hawthorne
“She’s dead!” they cried Melissa Lewis
Opening Night Nerves Linda Wilson
The Nightly Performance Ritual Deb Lewis
Each Night A Journey Karen Martin
Coffin Denise Johnstone
Not Just Entertainment Mavis Thorpe Clark
No Blood! Nicole, Emily & Joanna van der Nagel
1995, Leaping the Wire Deb Lewis & Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Circus Beasts Patricia Sykes
Discovering the Place Within Myself Elizabeth Connolly
Circus of Joy and Politics Helen Thomson
International Touring: Leaping the Wire
Getting to Beijing Jean Taylor
Beijing: Hail the Convocation of Women Bridget Roberts
Leaping the Wire Kath Davey
V EVALUATION
Celebration
A Circus Woman Jean Taylor
Workshops Emily George
Fantasy Louise Radcliffe-Smith
Lay-Off Season Patricia Sykes
Looking Back
Evaluation Jean Taylor
Change and Evolution Jules De Cinque
Reflections on a Journey Sharon Follett
Thankyou Carole
Think, Debate, Decide, Act Donna Jackson
Chronology
Glossary
Biographies
