RUNNING A CIRCUS FESTIVAL? HOW HARD COULD IT BE? Ciara Thorburn  It’s been two weeks and I’ve (almost) recovered from the best two weeks of my life (again). I’m talking about…

The Manifesto 19# It’s easy to focus on the things about ourselves that we’d like to change or do differently, but in doing so do we sometimes miss the subtle ways…

‘Lost in Circus‘ is a new video series from old Carnival Cinema friend & supporter – Irish circus performer &  filmmaker Ken Fanning (Tumble Circus).  In 2017 Ken made the first Ethereum –…

Spaghetti Circus is a Youth Circus based in Mullumbimby, Northern NSW. This great little film was created, shot & produced by Spaghetti Circus Performance Troupe member and year 10 student Anais Stewart…

Fortnightly findings from the Editor in Chief. Hello, Too late to get stop the rollercoaster and get off the ride, 2019 is well underway and those chilled out holidays are a distant…

This ‘Pick of the Net’ features insanely talented Scottish street trials rider, Danny MacAskill. I hope you enjoy, Peace & respect, Hamish ——————————————————————————————————————————— We acknowledge the people of the Bundjalung Nation,…

In discussion with Jess Love and Kareena Hodgson (The Manifesto). Kareena– Thanks so much for talking with Carnival Cinema Jess. I guess we need to start from the beginning. Can you…

 Welcome to Hamish’s Fortnightly Findings 2#. Fortnightly findings from the Editor in Chief. Hello, So, I was at my parent’s place for dinner last Friday, it is a beautiful 2-acre block just…

The Manifesto 18# Many people believe that self-care means taking a bath, doing meditation or generally participating in an activity on your own. This is not always the case……..  Self-care doesn’t…

A regular Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘The Soul Spectacle’ By Captain Frodo The Soul Spectacle On the Way of…

Showing Up Exhibition – Kate Pardey Showing Up is having its World Premiere exhibition at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2019. For more than three years, Carnival Cinema contributing photographer Kate Pardey and her camera have been…

Clare Bartholomew & Nicci Wilks In late December I caught up with Clare Bartholomew and Nicci Wilks – two awesome performers, directors, teachers and creators from our community. I set out…

The Manifesto 17# Instead of trying to peer around the corner in hopes of seeing what’s coming, move in for an intimate look at what’s happening right now.  Many of us…

Hello. For those following our fortnightly Carnival Cinema Newsletters (if your not subscribed, don’t miss out, subscribe in the right-hand column – we are up to edition 19# at the time…

Western Australian Circus Festival 2018 – Through the Carnival Cinema aka Hamish’s Lens. As Karnidale 2019 (Western Australian Circus Festival) kicks off this weekend, Jan 19th & 20th, and the training…

The Manifesto 16# Here’s the thing about new year’s resolutions, THEY SUCK! I understand the concept of starting fresh, drawing a line. A marker in time. But they rarely stick. They…

A regular Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘End Times’ By Captain Frodo November 2018 I’m lying in bed in a…

Back in 2014 I had the privilege of being engaged by KAGE (1997 – 2017) to make a ‘Behind the scenes’ video and teaser promo for their show Team Of Life during…

The Manifesto 15# Not everyone feels joy around this time of year.  For many it can trigger painful feelings around displacement, estrangement with families, loneliness, addiction/recovery, financial hardship, perfectionism and social…

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. This is Episode #6 – ‘Geoff Cobham’ it focuses on BACKBONE‘s Designer Geoff Cobham (Bluebottle, Force Majeur,…

This ‘Pick of the Net’ features the vaudeville stylings of The ‘Jolly’ Jovers from 1980. The Jovers (Wilfred & Fe Halliwell) performed together for decades, after meeting in the UK in 1953 and went…

The Manifesto 14# So last week I pushed myself way out of my comfort zone and the discomfort was palpable. I was invited to speak at the ASPAH (Australian Society of…

Company Here And Now was founded in June 2015 by performers & creators Rockie Stone and Vincent Van Berkel collaborating with sculptor, maker and creator of fantastic things Callan Morgan. A…

This ‘Pick of the Net’ features the new music video for ‘What’s Right’ – A new track from Hobart based musician, songwriter, street performer and circus cat, Hugo Bladel (FML the…

Emerging from humble beginnings in the Brisbane suburb of West End, Flipside Circus grew rapidly from a small community organisation, incorporated as a not-for-profit organisation in 1998, to a well-established youth company with…

A regular Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘Again, With Feeling’ By Captain Frodo On the Way of The Showman:…

The Manifesto 13# Are you a planner? … or do you go with the flow?

Alex Mizzen’s Invisible Things  Alex Mizzen is a creative who uses circus and dance-theatre to make evocative, challenging works. She is a world-class hand-balancer, graduate of National Ballet Theatre and has…

MT W∆RNING – You & Me A little video I made of my mate Mikey Bee aka MT W∆RNING rehearsing with a bunch of talented peeps – my partner Suzanne Simpson,…

Class of 2018 We thought we would introduce you to the talented NICA (National Institute of Circus Arts) graduating class of 2018. Video footage by Carnival Cinema collaborator Underground Media from the…

The Manifesto 12# I explore values with my clients because they profoundly inform what we pursue every day and fundamentally shape the trajectory of our lives. Values give us direction and…

A photography series by Aaron Walker for the production of Le Sacré performed at NICA in June 2018 Earlier this year I had the chance to cover all aspects of the…

Resting B*tch Face, Brisbane 2017 Words by Madeleine Grant We were and are Madeleine Grant (Librarian, clown, acrobat), Maite Miramontes (Teacher, acrobat, aerialist), Eliza Dolly (Occupational Therapist, Aerialist, Hooper, Acrobat) and…

This ‘Pick of the Net’ is a collection of videos of ‘Vintage’ Circus Women. There are lots of videos and I will add to it (so check back!) as I thought it would…

A regular Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘Night Off in Vegas’ By Captain Frodo On The Way of The…

The Manifesto 11# I have many conversations with my clients about how hard it is to look after yourself and your mental health, especially when you are touring, have limited time…

The Mullum Music Festival (Click through the photo’s above for full gallery – All Pics by Hamish McCormick, Carnival Cinema) Where I live, in the Byron Shire, beautiful Arakwal, Bundjalung country…

This video series on the Carnival Cinema Youtube channel has a simple premise – Acts and routines in full from some of the amazing performers I have had the pleasure of documenting…

The Manifesto 10# I’m wondering what the first thing is you do when you feel a niggle or pain in your shoulder, knee or back? Do you get some ice on…

Underground Media Aka Chris Bennett Carnival Cinema is proud to be a platform where we can showcase other photographers, filmmakers and writers who are documenting and reflecting this vibrant subculture we inhabit. This…

Cirque Alfonse Adelaide Fringe Festival 2016 Cirque Alfonse were performing ‘Barbu’ in the tent next door to the one I was production managing a show in during the Adelaide Fringe back…

Art in The Hills Culture creation. Two friends of mine had an idea, they would open their studio up to a whole group of their artist friends, from all sorts of …

This ‘Pick of the Net’ is a short film on award-winning performance artist Skye Gellmann as they develop the work ‘End Grain Installations’ in Japan 2017 Videography by Sydney based circus photographer and filmmaker Kimberley Brewster.…

A Day in the Life of Lucy Frost, Touring Production Manager at Circus Oz. Model Citizens Tour 2018 I wake up at 6.05am. Where am I? We arrived here the day…

The Manifesto 9# I have spent a large chunk of my life on a stage. I’m not an actor, I was always being a version of myself. One of my favourite…

A regular Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘Oversaturation’ By Captain Frodo In theatre less is more. In Vegas less…

The Brisbane Carnival Cinema Gathering- Mike’s reflection Each time we stage another Carnival Cinema Gathering we learn something new. We’ve only held three so far, but we realised very quickly that…

The Manifesto 8#   How do you cope when your head is full of anxious thoughts going round in circles? Do you have tools to quieten the noise? For me I…

#Dragformation A photographic series by Aaron Walker documenting the transformation of some of Australia’s premiere drag performers, Aaron’s images of the diverse drag spectrum are captured with great sensitivity, offering a rare insight…

This Pic of The Week is of rigger, builder and maker extraordinaire Chad Albinger and performer, trainer and all-round good man Benjamin Lewis, during a tech rehearsal at the Mullum Circus Festival…

Small Steps Project This video is a behind-the-scenes look at Alex Mizzen‘s research project ‘Small Steps’ back in 2015. Small Steps is about exploring the world where classical ballet meets/influences circus…

This Pick of the Net is a beautiful short documentary on Rudi Mineur Snr ( yes, the father of Australian Circus legend Rudi Mineur, the tattooed, muscly, super lovely one) and the…

The Manifesto 7# Can we talk about our strengths? Performers have an innate strength that allows them go onstage and perform no matter what they are dealing with in life. Perhaps…

I wanna do that, What you do, How do I do that? by guest writer Adrienne Truscott While sitting in my truck, in the rain in Philadelphia waiting for someone to…

A ‘semi-regular’ Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the way of the Showman: ‘Time Travel’ By Captain Frodo Fellow Wayfarers, it is good to have…

This ‘Pick of The Net’ is this great video of Mitch Jones‘s (AKA Captain Ruin) creative development for his solo show AutoCannibal (premiere date still to be confirmed). Video by the excellent Chris Bennet…

This Pic of The Week is of the excellent Laurie Hagen, I snapped it backstage at Club Swizzle in the Roundhouse, Camden. [See full gallery Here] Pic of The Week: Laurie Hagen – Club…

Storrorblog As I make this post I am in London, so I’m running with the UK theme. This ‘Pick of The Net‘ is three video’s from the Storror boys, a group…

Club Swizzle X Carnival Cinema As those on our newsletter mailing list will know, I have been ‘Show minding’ Club Swizzle (From Creative Producer Brett Haylock – La Soiree and The Brunswick Picture…

Hideaway Circus Hideaway Circus is a production company run by creative producers and husband and wife, Josh and Lyndsay Aviner based in Brooklyn, New York. They produce live shows and also the host Hideaway…

The Manifesto 6# Shit happens, but shift happens, too. If you can shift your attitude in this moment, you can shift your attitude in any moment. You leave the house in…

This Pic of The Week is of the fierce legends from Hot Brown Honey taken at the Fringe World Festival, Perth 2018. If they ever come to a stage near you and you haven’t…

Where do Women exist? By roving reporter and guest writer Simone O’Brien It is 12.38am in downtown Montreal in Andrew’s Bar and the bartender is dutifully stoned and charmingly ignoring the…

The Manifesto 5# Uncertainty I’ve never been a fan. What about you? For some of us it’s kind of like our kryptonite. (while others I know have trouble keeping any certainty…

The Manifesto 4# Hurting others in an attempt to ease your own hurt doesn’t work. It’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. We don’t always get the…

The Manifesto 3# All humans are creative. Some just lean into their creativity more than others. As artists/designers /makers/performers most of you reading this exist in this world as creatives. It’s…

This ‘Pick of The Net’ is the official video for powerhouse Mojo Juju‘s latest track Native Tongue. An awesome and powerful song and video, ripe and poignant at this time in contemporary…

A new Carnival Cinema column of showbiz life musings by Captain Frodo – On the Way of the Showman: ‘Terms and Conditions’ by Captain Frodo When I became a Showman I clicked…

The Manifesto 2# Genuine courage and strength is required to lean into the parts of ourselves that we don’t like or that we refuse to acknowledge. This ‘shadow self’ can be…

This weeks ‘Pic of The Week‘ is a family potrait of the Pitts Family Circus at the Brunswick Picture House, 2016. I love this shot, the local paper’s photographer had set…

Melba Film Night This week we hosted our very first Melbourne Carnival Cinema film night event. (Scroll through our ‘Social pages’ above – all pics by the excellent Aaron Walker Photography)  We chose…

The Manifesto 1# As part of the work I’m doing with a few of my clients I’ve been thinking about the idea of finding a balance between staying present in the…

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. Gravity & Other Myths: ‘Sticks & Stones’ Episode #5 was…

From the Editor-In-Chief, Creative Director and Co-Founder: A lot of work has been happening behind the scenes at Carnival Cinema and I am super excited to announce two new faces of…

Brand NEW! Carnival Cinema branded and lettered Patches now available. Sew or iron on these quality 9 cm high-quality Embroidered Cloth Patches, to your favourite item of clothing, bag or just…

Carnival Cinema X Rhiannon Cave-Walker

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. Gravity & Other Myths: ‘Sticks & Stones’ Episode #4 was…

For those who haven’t come across Malia Walsh before she is an unstoppable force of nature – performer, director, producer, creator, partner and soon to be the mother of two! I’ve known Malia…

‘Life At the Circus’ – Video series by Cath Wood I have just spent the last week with my kids at the Western Australian Circus Festival. This amazing festival in Karridale…

Tales From The Training Room Floor – Episode #5: Pointe Adagio/Risley The Final Episode – Episode #5 of ‘Tales From The Training Room Floor’ is about training Pointe Adagio and Risley, Featuring 2nd…

FALLOT (fä-ˈlō) Recently I had the pleasure of documenting FALLOT (fä-ˈlō) a collaboration between my old mates, Brisbane based artists Marianna Joslin, Casey Douglas and Company 2 (Scotch & Soda, Sediment, Cantina). This is…

CircusTalk is a professional circus-specific online ‘social network’ aimed at the global circus community which launched this year. Aiming to change how we connect, network, hire and exchange information in the circus industry…

The fabulous Olivia Porter and Jarred Dewey (Poached Eggs and Asparagus) have created a new show Party Ghost and performed it at Circus Oz‘s mini-festival of experimental circus in Melbourne – Sidesault At The…

My buddies from The Syndicate Sideshow are performing their show Relax: Everything’s F*cked at Sidesault At The Melba from the 15th – 18th Nov presented by Circus Oz. The Syndicate Sideshow…

  CASTING OFF by A GOOD CATCH Casting Off  features the super talents, minds and muscles of:  Spenser Inwood  – Circus Oz, Womens Circus, Flying Fruit Fly Circus   Sharon Gruenert  – Cirque du…

Welcome to ‘Pick of the Net’ a regular series of posts where I pick some videos (or video) I’ve enjoyed on the net during the week or videos with a particular theme…

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the new video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. Gravity & Other Myths: ‘Sticks & Stones’ Episode #3…

Mullum Circus Festival Well a few weeks ago we had the Mullum Circus Festival 2017 here in Northern NSW presented by my alma mater Spaghetti Circus. As the circus festivals are in…

Tales From The Training Room Floor – Episode #4: Rope (Corde Lisse) Episode #4 of ‘Tales From The Training Room Floor’ is about training and teaching the Rope (Cord Lisse) Featuring 2nd year NICA…

Welcome to ‘Pick of the Net’ a regular series of posts where I pick some videos (or video) I’ve enjoyed on the net during the week or videos with a particular theme…

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the new video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. Gravity & Other Myths: ‘Sticks & Stones’ Episode #2…

Lunar Circus Documentary – 2001 This weeks ‘Pick of The Net’ is a great little student doco I found online about Lunar Circus by Perth Central Tafe 2001 graduate class. (Matt ‘Fatso’…

Sticks & Stones Carnival Cinema & Gravity & Other Myths present the new video series Sticks & Stones: Behind the Scenes of BACKBONE. Gravity & Other Myths: ‘Sticks & Stones’ Episode #1…

‘From The Carnival Cinema Archives’ Series So I’m expanding the concept of the ‘From The Carnival Cinema Archives’ series by experimenting and adding myself as a ‘host’ to put context around the…

Episode #3 of ‘Tales From The Training Room Floor’ is about training and teaching the Roue Cyr. It features 2nd year Student Haley Mills & Trainer Ludwig Schukin  (and training from Sam Whelan and…

Looking forward to this – “The Pitts Circus: A post-truth mockumentary, about a unique circus family”. The Pitts Circus: The Movie – Interview with Director Ken Fanning was last modified: November 8th, 2018…

How to get over Jet lag quickly Where I ask the experts in my circus community, to share their Top 5# Tips on any given subject. This Top 5# Tips is about getting…

Episode #2 of ‘Tales From The Training Room Floor’ features 2nd year Student Ciara Thorburn as she talks about her passion for Chair Balancing and the way she approaches her training. Tales…

CIRCUS STARS: Circus and Autism- TEDX Back in 2010 I began working with kids with a range of disabilites, many of them had a diagnosis of Autism of some kind. I…

Razor baby – Club Swing 1998 I’d like to draw your attention to this hidden gem, a quite candid ‘making of’ documentary made by Stella Motion Pictures of the kick arse…

Tales From The Training Room Floor Ep #1: Washington Trapeze I have collaborated with the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) to make a little series of short behind-the-scenes videos of…

The Space Cowboy: Birth of The Million Volt Man I just edited this little ‘behind the scenes’ video of old friend and colleague Chayne Hultgren aka The Space Cowboy debuting his new…

Briefs Close Encounters A few months ago I had the pleasure of hanging out and documenting my bunch of beautiful idiot friends from Briefs as they premiered their new show Close Encounters at…

Mullum Circus Festival 2001 As the 2017 Mullum Circus Festival approaches I thought I’d take us back to the first Circus Festival that was held in my little home town courtesy of…

Carnival Cinema Archive Laid Out So I’ve made this little video to give people a real sense of the amount of footage I have captured of our community, the Australian circus…

Bush High Wire session: National Circus Festival 2011 This little video is from the Carnival Cinema Archives made back in 2011 (you can tell how long ago because there is peoples myspace…

Kimberley Brewster Kimberley is a Sydney based photographer and film maker. She focuses on collaborating with artists in circus, dance and other movement mediums and creates beautiful images and video in visually…

Circus Oz presents Model Citizens In the last few months I’ve done a bunch of work with Circus Oz documenting their new show ‘Model Citizens’. Its the first show directed by…

Welcome to Top 5# Tips – Where I ask the experts in my circus community, to share their Top 5# Tips on any given subject. This Top 5# Tips is about mothers Juggling work and…

Featured Artist: Billie Wilson-Coffey Fellow Byron Shire native Billie Wilson-Coffey is a circus performer, photographer and visual artist, based out of Brisbane, Australia. She is currently touring the world as a member…

Gravity & Other Myths presents BACKBONE In Feb/March this year I had the privilege of going and documenting my mates Gravity & Other Myths (GOM) creating and premiering their latest work BACKBONE  at…

Featured Artists – Daniel & Rhiannon Cave Walker The first ‘Featured Artists’ in this Magazine are Dan & Rhiannon Cave Walker (Fauna), a couple of world class acrobats based in UK and Sweden. I have known…