OBSERVER: Adrift – liberated, not lost
The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) presents the graduate showcase, titled Adrift. Curated by Tegan Carmichael and devised by NICA’s third-year students, from December 9-13 at the NICA National Circus Centre in Prahran.
To be cast adrift is not to be lost, but to be liberated. It is an allegory for the end of one journey and beginning of another.
Before students close the final chapter, pages are turned back to reflect on the path that brought them here.
Of every idea scribbled, workshopped, buried, and dug up again. Each student searched within to find their stories, their quirks, and elements of connection. Now, they approach the threshold and leave behind the relics of student life.
With a clean slate, they’ll write a new narrative, and from the student emerges a professional artist bound for new horizons.
The students’ final acts feature aerials, trio acrobatics, Chinese pole, roue cyr, hoop diving, hair hang, and more in Adrift.
NICA is a proud Arts8 training organisation, supported by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts.
Globally recognised as Australia’s Centre of Excellence in circus studies and the only provider of accredited tertiary circus education in the southern hemisphere, the programs, delivered in partnership with NICA’s educational partner, the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts), are highly sought after both nationally and internationally.
Graduates of NICA have gone on to pursue exciting careers both locally and internationally and have contributed to the development of Australia’s vibrant circus arts industry.
Season: December 10 – 13 (preview 9 December)
Time: 7.30pm evenings and 2 pm matinee
Venue: NICA’s Guang Rong Lu OAM National Circus Centre. 39 – 59 Green St, Prahran
Duration: 2 hours (including 20 min interval)
Tickets: $18 – $40 plus booking fee. Discounts for groups, concession, Mob tix and under 30s.
Seating: General Admission
Bookings: nica.com.au/performs
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: NICA graduates Bridie Callahan, Georgia Pozorski and Sammy George rehearse for Adrift.

