The first festival was held in September 2005 and Catapult 2018 will run from April 18-22.

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.

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 practising.

The atmosphere of Catapult is incredibly infectious and the benefits are certainly not limited to the participating performers.

Audiences of all ages are provided with a non-stop array of diverse and captivating shows. With incredibly affordable ticket prices, groups and individuals can fully satisfy their hunger to soak up the festival spirit. 

One of the main intentions of the creators of Catapult was to create a performance and skill development platform for the growing number of youth circus and physical theatre troupes in Australia.

Many of these troupes are linked to schools and circus and physical theatre activity is finding an increasingly important role in school curricula.

This year teachers will meet during the festival to continue these discussions and create links with each other to build networks and share skills.

This year Gravity and other Myths (GOM) will be performing their show A Simple Space as part of the Festival and will also be running workshops for participants. GOM is an internationally renowned circus company pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus.

Formed in Adelaide, in 2009, GOM has rocketed to stellar acclaim with a series of disarmingly accomplished ensemble works. GOM’s work utilises an honest approach to performance, to create shows with a focus on human connection and acrobatic virtuosity.

A Simple Space has achieved huge international success, receiving multiple awards, and having performed more than 500 times across 24 countries.

A Simple Space will be performed at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on April 19 at 7.30pm and Saturday, April 21 at 2pm and 7.30pm.

Audiences can also see a gala performance – which will showcase the young participants coming to the festival on Friday, April 20 at 7.30pm. There will also be a fire show and a free trapeze performance.

For more information about Catapult Festival check out www.catapultfestival.com.au or you can contact BMEC on 6333 6161.