PROTEUS
About the show
We are in the epicentre of a futuristic metropolis. Who calls it home?
Voyaging through the city's architectural spaces, we're offered microcosmic glimpses into an engrossing civilisation. Within these intimate settings, compromising scenes unfold as bold personalities go about their everyday lives.
NICA’s third-year ensemble present their strongest character work yet, while showcasing innovative skills across double Chinese pole, hula hoops, aerial rope, teeterboard, roue cyr, and more. Their last production season sold out in the blink of an eye (Fall With Me, 2024) — so don’t wait.
Proteus is co-directed by internationally acclaimed artists Sage Bachtler Cushman and Hugo Oliveira, both based in Portugal. Their nuanced integration of circus, theatre, and movement creates a distinctive artistic dialect that evokes a visceral, intuitive response.
This production is supported by an exceptionally talented Creative Team: Costume Design by Miriam Robinson with help from Melbourne Polytechnic Costume Design Students; Set Design by Barrie Michael Baxter (Baxter); Sound Design and Composition by Ian Moorhead; and Lighting Design by Lisa Mibus.
Under great tension, time is struck by unexpected shifts in frame, revealing new perspectives. In this dimension, mutable and ever-changing forces drive perpetual transformation.
EVENT INFO
Bookings:
Via Trybooking
Tickets between $15 - $40
Performances:
Tuesday 17 June 7.30pm (preview)
Wednesday 18 June 7.30pm (opening night)
Thursday 19 June 7.30pm
Friday 20 June 7.30pm
Saturday 21 June 7.30pm
Tuesday 24 June 7.30pm
Wednesday 25 June 7.30pm
Thursday 26 June 7.30pm
Friday 27 June 7.30pm
Saturday 28 June 2.00pm (matinee)
Saturday 28 June 7.30pm (closing night)
Duration:
Approx 80 minutes
Location:
The National Institute of Circus Arts
39-59 Green Street, Prahran
Content Warning:
Parental Guidance Recommended
The show may contain references to adult themes, loud music, smoke haze, mild sexual references, depiction of smoking, and mild violence.
THE AMAZING CAST
Alanah Lewis
PERFORMER
Alex Burris
PERFORMER
Bethany White
PERFORMER
Bridie Callahan
PERFORMER
Christina Godwin
PERFORMER
Dakoda Barr
PERFORMER
Georgia Pozorski
PERFORMER
Hannah Dickers
PERFORMER
Holly Jobson
PERFORMER
Imogen Drury
PERFORMER
Immy Turecek
PERFORMER
Jam Travers
PERFORMER
Lachlan MacDonald
PERFORMER
Naz Turner
PERFORMER
Paige Dorrity
PERFORMER
Sammy George
PERFORMER
Saskia Gallasch
PERFORMER
Shianne Crampton
PERFORMER
Talia Sofizade
PERFORMER
Taliesha Hall-Huynh
PERFORMER
Zephyr Patterson
PERFORMER
To book graduate artists contact Australia’s leading circus agency for professional circus performers:
NICA RepresentsTHE PRODUCTION
Co-Directors
Sage Bachtler Cushman & Hugo Oliveira
Costume Designer
Miriam Robinson
Set Designer
Barrie Michael Baxter (Baxter)
Sound Designer
Ian Moorhead
Lighting Designer
Lisa Mibus
Production Manager
Scott Grayland
Stage Manager
Holly Anderson
Circus Supervisor
Djuno Fisher
Costume Supervisor
Mireille (Mimi) Goyette
Show Riggers
Andrew Dyson & Kyle Raftery
Safety Officer
Leo Pentland
Head Rigger
Kaleb Hawkins
Lighting Operator
Liam Jones
Sound Operator
Lee Stout
Front of House Manager
Natalie Frijia
Bar Manager
Niamh Howard
Photography
Cameron Grant, Parenthesy
Video Documentation
Alex Sibbison, Masterworks Media Productions
NICA ED
Head of Circus Studies
Tegan Carmichael (Acting)
Senior Educator – Academic
Tegan Carmichael & Valentina La Piana
Performance Studies Coordinator
Katie Cawthorne
Movement Convenor
Linda Sastradipradja
Circus Operations Coordinator
Alexander Gullan
3rd Year Coordinator
Linda Sastradipradja (Acting)
Martine Howard
1st Year Coordinator
Emily Hughes
Certificate IV Coordinator
Hannah Trott
Coordinator – Alumni & Industry Engagement
Natalie Frijia
Circus Teachers
Earl Shatford, Gang (Charlie) Cheng, Helene Embling, Jon Griffingham, Mireille (Mimi) Goyette, Rong Lu, Vasily Ivanov, Brett Franzi, Jian Nie, Felicia O'Brien, Lauren Skopal, Will Anton & Rikki Morgan.
Business Studies
Lauren Eisinger
Circus History
Antonella Casella
Administrator (dance programs)
Jenny Vanderhorst
EXECUTIVE & ADMIN
Chief Executive Officer
Simona Jobbagy
Operations Manager (Human Resources)
Emily O’Connor
Operations Manager (Facilities & Resources)
Franx Ann
Operations Manager (Commercial)
Paula McKaskill
Executive Officer
Josephine Byrt
Head of Finance
Faye Stathakis
Senior Administration Coordinator
Anne Young
NICA Represents Agent
Christina Cox
Samuel Boyd (acting)
Marketing & Communications Manager
Karen Leskiw
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Halina Powierza
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Rosa Quinton
NICA Rec Administration Assistants
Jessie Shook & Meagan Kenny
NICA Administration Assistants
Sebastien Pasche & Timmy Foley
CROSS-FACULTY
Lead Educator, Melbourne Polytechnic
Lynn Hunt
Educator, Melbourne Polytechnic
Amanda Silk
Melbourne Polytechnic Costume students
Mercedes Ellis
Sarah Hordern
Erin Tinker
Lulu Fenton
Jasslyn Lewis James
Bailey Burhardt
Caroline Buckley
Special thanks
Zilla Design and Zilla & Brook Publicity
NICA MEDICAL TEAM
Head Physiotherapist
Dr David Munro
Sports Doctor
Dr Suleiman Halabi
Sports & Performance Psychologist
Dr Alex Beaconsfield
Physiotherapist, Strength & Conditioning Coach
Cat King
Physiotherapist
Emily Irvine
Therapy Dog
Larry
DONATE TO NICA
NICA is Australia’s Centre of Excellence for training in contemporary circus arts, offering Australia's only Bachelor of Circus Arts. It is one of eight national arts training institutes. By donating to NICA, you will make a difference to the lives of our students and the future of circus in Australia. All donations over $2.00 AUD are tax deductible.
make a differenceACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) humbly acknowledges the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional Custodians and knowledge-holders of the lands on which we create and, learn. We recognize that sovereignty has never been ceded, and we pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We extend our sincere acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, partners and visitors, who have contributed to NICA's success, diversity and growth.
