MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Wednesday November 8

Rallying for community support to make Catapult Festival 2007 bigger and better begins

The second Catapult Festival is less than a year away and organisers are calling on communities throughout the country to lend their support to ensure it’s even more spectacular than the first.

Catapult burst onto Australia’s art and cultural calendar on September 16-18, 2005 in a flurry of colour, energy and sheer circus and physical theatre talent.

This first ever regional circus and physical theatre festival, which attracted nationally and internationally acclaimed performers from all corners of Australia, not only captured but ignited its host - the Bathurst community’s imagination.

Like the first festival, Catapult 2007 aims to provide a performance and skills development platform for the growing number of youth circus and physical theatre troupes in Australia to showcase their skills.

To achieve this goal Catapult organisers are calling on the communities throughout the country to throw their support behind their local circus and physical theatre performers to ensure they’re at next year’s festival to make it bigger and better.

Catapult Program Coordinator Stephen Champion strongly believes this festival is worthy of community backing.

“Catapult is the first festival in Australia to showcase the skills of young circus and physical theatre performers and participants are welcome from across Australia and from abroad,” he said.

“Another thing that makes Catapult unique is that it is not only a festival for young performers but also attracts some of the best adult professional performers currently practicing.

Catapult organisers have observed that the interaction between these youth and adult performers is an inspiration to all participants regardless of their age or skill level.”

Brewarrina Circus Project Coordinator Kate Reid, whose troupe shone at the inaugural Catapult Festival, knows first-hand what a magical experience the festival is for emerging circus and physical theatre performers.

“Circus is a rapidly growing interest for young people across the country and creating an event such as Catapult, the only youth specific event of it’s kind in the country, provides a unique artistic vehicle for young people from very different backgrounds, to come together in an empowered way with a common language, and focus,” she said.

“Catapult is providing an essential place where young people can grow artistically and culturally, can network with other like individuals and groups, and gain experiences outside of their local community, in which they can participate in an inspired, inclusive, instructive and constructive environment.”

Media Launch

When: Thursday November 16, 12pm.

Where: City Hall – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Corner of William and Russell Street, Bathurst.

What: Local Bathurst circus performers will be perform a brief but dazzling ciaerial demonstration. A professionally edited 3 minute DVD of Catapult 2005 (available to TV to use) will be screened. Catapult organisers will available for interview and have a surprise announcement to make about the 2007 festival.

Sponsorship Launch

When: Thursday November 16, 5.30pm-6.30pm.

Where: City Hall – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Corner of William and Russell Street, Bathurst.

What: Community members have been invited to learn more about Catapult and how they can support it.

For more information contact Catapult Program Coordinator Stephen Champion on

6333 6166 or email stephen.champion@bathurst.nsw.gov.au.