If you’re a QUT student, this is your sign to pursue that passion project alongside your studies! If you’re in Adelaide this March, don’t miss Stir The Pot by Collective Circus, created by three QUT Creative Industries students and performed by our incredible cast. Stir The Pot is a celebration of girlhood, strength, and resilience, taking audiences on a journey through the complexities of being a woman today. Combining acrobatics, theatre, and visual storytelling, this show is a gravity-defying exploration of unity, defiance, and empowerment.
Creativity and innovation drive our artistic endeavours. Among us are emerging artists dedicated to pushing the boundaries of performance and storytelling. Collective Circus was founded in 2021 by Zoe Joiner during her first year at QUT, while studying Creative Industries (Entertainment). What began as a passion project has now grown into a platform for young artists navigating the transition from youth circus to the professional stage. Collective Circus has also collaborated with other QUT students, such as Sailor Rose (a Design and Creative Writing student who designed the collective’s merchandise, including shirts and tote bags), Anabella Gregory (a key performer currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama), and recent graduate Maxi Mossman (who completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries in Drama). Maxi and Zoe first connected during their final year of study, and after being accepted as artists-in-residence with Flipside Circus for Collective Circus’ new show development, Stir The Pot, they worked together to co-direct and produce the show.
Collective Circus is a group of young, aspiring circus artists based in South-East Queensland. Bringing together performers from diverse backgrounds in the performing arts, the collective specialises in ground-based movement and acrobatics, creating innovative, thought-provoking performances. Zoe, inspired by the gap between emerging and professional circus artists, founded the collective to provide opportunities for young performers to continue their artistic journey after youth circus. Since its inception, Collective Circus has been committed to fostering the next generation of circus artists, helping them refine their craft and gain valuable industry experience. Through residencies, performances, and collaborations, the collective provides a space for artists to learn, grow, and challenge artistic norms. Our mission is to create opportunities for young performers to take their first steps into the professional world while nurturing a supportive and inspiring community.
2025 is set to be an exciting year as we take Stir The Pot to the Adelaide Fringe Festival, marking our first Fringe season. We will be performing at The Parks Theatre in collaboration with Cirkidz Tribe students (local Adelaide circus school).
Our journey in 2024 has already been monumental. We were awarded the Artist-in-Residence program at Flipside Circus, supported by the Queensland Government and the Australian Government’s RISE Fund; we completed a residency at Spaghetti Circus, finalising development for Stir The Pot; we premiered Stir The Pot at the Judith Wright Arts Centre in collaboration with Flipside Circus Step Ups students; we performed at the National Circus Festival in Mullumbimby alongside Spaghetti Circus’ Super Mighties Troupe; and we took part in Vulcana Circus Open House Cabaret, featuring young Queensland circus artists. We are thankful for the support of the Brisbane circus community including Flipside Circus, Vulcana Circus and Circa. Previously the collective has also performed our first creation, Waitlisted, at Woodford Folk Festival, Backbone Festival and the National Circus Festival, and completed an under construction with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Since starting, we’ve seen first-hand the hunger for more independent circus projects from young artists transitioning out of youth circus. Our goal is to create space for emerging performers to take charge of their artistic careers and develop their first independent works. We’re excited for the future of Collective Circus and look forward to its continued growth both as a platform for emerging artists and as a community that fosters creativity, resilience, and ambition. As some of us continue our studies and others enter the professional world, we remain committed to contributing to shaping the next wave of circus.
The Team:
Zoe Joiner
Maxi Mossman
Lucy Hunterland
Aurora Bennett-Godde
Tallulah Bennetton
Indra Garvey
Anabella Gregory
