What is Catapult?

Catapult is a biennial festival with a focus of Circus & Physical Theatre and takes centre stage in Bathurst, NSW. The first festival was held in September 2005 and the next Catapult will run from 29th-31st March 2012.

Catapult is the meeting point for metropolitan, regional and remote youth circus practitioners and also the meeting point between youth circus and adult professional circus and physical theatre. It plays a vital linking and networking role in a field where participants have previously not been able to meet, share skills and processes or develop national benchmarks and accreditation. 

In 2009 the Catapult Festival became a truly national event with representatives of youth circus troupes from every state in the country.  This biennial festival of youth circus and physical theatre has grown from its NSW regional base to be recognized as the national festival for youth circus in Australia. 

Circus has proved to be an activity of enormous benefit for young people. It has been shown to reduce truancy from school; build confidence, cooperation and self esteem in youth with social challenges; give remote, often aboriginal young people, a focus and alternative to harmful, anti-social behaviour; provide a physical and creative outlet for young people who are not interested in competitive sport; generate a sense of positive risk taking and the development of positive life skills.

One of the positive aspects of youth circus activity and circus in general is its inclusiveness of people who are excluded for whatever reason from other physical activity. For example there are documented cases of young people with attention deficit disorders gaining focus through the development of manipulation skills. Circus is traditionally a refuge for misfits and outcasts and those with a so-called disability are certainly welcome in this family. Catapult is no exception.

Having a National Youth Circus Festival provides credibility and exposure to this important youth movement. It is clear from feedback from young people and trainers that the Catapult Festival makes a significant impact on their lives. Documented through feedback in a session which asked participants about their interest in circus, and their most important moments – " coming to previous Catapult Festivals and performing" came up numerous times.

Why do we need your help?

Catapult Festival strives to ensure that:

• youth groups from all economic backgrounds can afford to attend the Festival .

• registration fees are kept low, and financial support will be provided to ensure that groups can attend.

• the key measurable outcome of the Catapult Festival is linking physically, face to face, youth circus troupes who normally practice in isolation.

In order for this to happen we need as much financial support as possible. We apply for government funding to assist us in offering high quality workshops, presenters and performances at the festival; however we still need as much funding as possible in order to support the attendance of young circus and physical theatre performers from around Australia.

We have kept our financial goal low so that we can guarantee at least some support is offered to the groups attending.

The more donations we receive, the more financial support we will be able to offer the young people attending this fantastic event.