Connect Project assembles artists from Counterpilot, Chimera Arts and Trix Circus to develop new, experimental performances with Flipside’s Performance Troupe. Kickstarting performance at the Brisbane Circus Centre following the fire in early 2024.

Starting in July 2024, the project focused on creative developments that explored approaches to performance creation, experimented with form and apparatus, and refined circus performance skills. It concluded with the development of two new pop-up performance works, showcased through performances and showings at the Brisbane Circus Centre in November and December.

Counterpilot x Flipside

This work was developed over three stages:

1. Create a shared creative language, build ensmeble, and begin creative exploration
2. Turn ideas into performance – resulting in 5 preview performances at the Brisbane Circus Centre
3. Intensive creative development to create and test a brand new pop-up performance. Stage 2 formed the basis for exploration and was pulled a part, extended, reassembled, and combined with additional technical elements.

The final work brought together circus, storytelling, and Counterpilot techno-wizardry.

Chimera Arts x Flipside x Trix Circus

This project set out to use the movement of circus apparatus to explore themes around connection and recognising shared and differing lived experiences.

Through October and November, the creative team fabricated and installed a freestanding swinging trapeze rig suitable for the project and began testing skills and working methods. November through December, the artists came together to build skills, experiment with the apparatus, and test creative ideas. The project moved to an intensive development ahead of a final test performance in December.

Connect Project helped realise Flipside’s ambition to experiment with circus practice. It brought together new collaborators and methods of working. It also introduced new apparatus (swinging trapeze) and new technical elements to Flipside’s young/early career artists. Significantly, the project helped rebuild audiences, creative capacity, and momentum after the fire that damaged the Brisbane Circus Centre and disrupted much of Flipside’s 2024 program.