Catapult Festival 2009

Catapult 2009 was held between 23 & 27 September. With the support of the Regional Arts Fund the Catapult Festival and the Central West Training Project was afforded the opportunity to bring trainers from each state in Australia. This meant for the first time it was a truly national festival. The 2009 festival focused on sharing training methods, rigging safety and the first steps towards national trainer accreditation.

Youth troupes represented (by state) were:

• Queensland –Big Star Circus
• Western Australia – Western Australian Circus School
• South Australia – Cirkidz
• Tasmania – SlipStream Circus
• Victoria – Westside Circus
• NSW – Swoop Physical Theatre (Sydney), Circus Allsorts (Kellyville High School) Brewarrina Youth Circus, Zany Yare (Blue Mountains), Circo Blurto (Blue Mountains), Gunnedah Circus School, Half High Circus (Wollongong), Circus 35 South (Ulladulla), Cirkus Surreal (Bathurst), Bathurst Women’s Circus, Sidewalk Circus (CSU Theatre/Media students).

Professional performers who attended who were not part of a youth company included:

• Members of Circus Oz (including Artistic Director Mike Finch).
• Heidi Hillier and James Bustar. Heidi and James were contracted by Catapult Festival as performers for schools shows.

This biennial festival of youth circus and physical theatre has grown from its NSW regional base to be recognised as the national festival for youth circus in Australia.In 2009 the Catapult Festival became a truly national event with representatives of youth circus troupes from every state in the country.  This recognition was ratified in November 2009 at the National Youth Circus Symposium, convened by the Australian Circus & Physical Theatre Association.