Flipside Circus is Queensland’s largest youth arts organisation, known for dynamic performances, a focus on creativity, innovation, and youth development, and a commitment to community engagement. Established in Brisbane in 1994, the circus has grown from a local project to a prominent player in the national scene, providing a pipeline of artists for Queensland’s world-renowned circus sector.
Flipside's mission is to empower communities through circus, guided by its values of celebration, experimentation, creativity, wellbeing, and agility. Flipside’s core offering is circus classes and training programs for young people (and some adults) in greater Brisbane and throughout regional and remote Queensland. Participation in these programs is designed to lead to early career and performance opportunities, as Flipside also presents an artistic program of performances by, for, and with children, young people, and emerging artists.
Flipside’s new performance work, The Cubby, was developed with regional and remote communities over the past three years. From blanket forts to tree house swimming pools, The Cubby celebrates the imagination, ingenuity, and resilience of kids as Flipside’s young circus professionals bring to life the adventures and daydreams of children from regional Queensland. Students who participated in workshops in Blackall, Tambo, Charleville, Thargomindah, Eromanga, Julia Creek, Winton, and Normanton were able to witness the results of their creativity this year as the premiere season toured regionally. Combining this touring with broader regional residency engagement, Flipside has been able to reach 32 regional and remote communities in 2024 with support from the TFFF and Arts Queensland.
This is an achievement worthy of celebration in an ordinary year, let alone the extraordinary circumstances the Flipside community have experienced over the past ten months.
In late 2022, Flipside moved into a new purpose-built home, the Brisbane Circus Centre. It signaled a new era for the company — almost 50,000 people stepped through the doors in 2023. Circus school enrolments grew by 50%, and over 900 artists accessed the facility for training, development, and rehearsals.
Flipside was poised to continue this growth trajectory when a building fire caused extensive damage in January 2024. Toxic smoke covered the centre, and most equipment was unsalvageable. Clean-up and rebuilding efforts have been ongoing for most of the year, with peer organisations Circa, Vulcana, and Trix Circus, and venues Brisbane Powerhouse and Superordinary, as well as partners EDQ and CBRE providing critical equipment and space so circus school programs could resume activities just two days after the fire. After-school and weekend classes continued, school holiday workshops sold out, resident companies were supported to develop new work, and regional tours premiered The Cubby and shared skills workshops with almost 2,500 children and adults.
In September, Flipside was able to return to its home at the Brisbane Circus Centre, and is celebrating its reopening with a series of performances and community events.
“We are overjoyed to finally be coming home,” said Robert Kronk, CEO and Artistic Director of Flipside Circus. “The past months have been incredibly challenging. But we’ve been buoyed by the overwhelming support of our community, partners, and friends. Returning to the Brisbane Circus Centre represents a physical homecoming, the resilience of our organisation, and a new start. We can’t wait to welcome artists and our community back.”
The Flipside community has raised over $30,000 through its Fire Appeal which helped the organisation stay afloat in the aftermath of the fire. The Appeal is still open, with every dollar going towards rebuilding efforts that will secure Flipside’s future.
2024 Flipside Touring and Residency locations:
11 – 30 Apr 2024: Barcaldine, Blackall, Morven, Charleville, Quilpie, Thargomindah, Wyandra, Cunnamulla, Bollon, Hebel, Dirranbandi, and Thallon.
15 Jun – 10 Jul 2024: Taroom, Moranbah, Emerald, Ayr, Bowen, Collinsville, Proserpine, Mt Perry, and Mundubbera.
6 Sep – 29 October 2024: Georgetown, Normanton, Karumba, Mt Isa, Julia Creek, Hughenden, Richmond, Cameron Downs, Rockhampton, Gympie, and Bundaberg.
Cover photo: Flipside performers in The Cubby. All photos courtesy of Flipside.
Flipside Circus is supported through the Resilience stream.
