Circa expands into Cairns with new First Nations ensemble

The Brisbane-based circus company is expanding from Meanjin to the Gimuy Walabura Yidinii, Yirrganydji Country, with a new, First Nations-led ensemble.
Three circus artists practice a balancing routine in a dark studio.

Contemporary circus company Circa has announced its expansion into northern Queensland with a First Nations-led ensemble.

Circa Cairns, based on Yirrganydji Country, will be led creatively by Waka Waka man Harley Mann, the founder and artistic custodian of Na Djinang Circus.

The new ensemble currently comprises Mann and two other First Nations artists, Ally Humphris and Crystal Stacey, together with well-known Cairns arts leader Rebecca Youdell in the role of Creative Producer.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts