Circus Stories in Nature – Look Closer. Wonder More
Lie on your back and watch birds and aerialists soar overhead, swim with LED jellyfish and chase their bubbles, wriggle your toes in the grass and imagine growing as tall as a stringybark gum.
With a custom set constructed around a free standing aerial rig Minutia invites audiences into a magical world where everyday green spaces are transformed into a stage for spectacular circus acts. Minutia is an ensemble circus work with true intergenerational appeal and engaging interactive elements.
Inspired by the 2025 National survey on Nature Connection: Nature connection and wellbeing in Australia, a report that found that, “Those with the highest levels of nature connectedness are 1.9 more likely to have the highest levels of quality of life”.
With this knowledge at its core Minutia aims to help audiences find the everyday joys in the natural world around them.
Touring History
2025
Port Fairy Folk Festival
Vulcana Test Site Festival, Brisbane
2026
Independent presentation, Brisbane
Audience Reviews
Creative Team
Direction
Sparkle Society founders Ambrose Kelso and Latonya Wigginton have a joint directorial practise focused on creating joyful circus works that bring communities together. With a focus on how art can uplift and connect they are interested in breaking the mould on what contemporary circus looks like.
Set Design
Moonrise Productions is a boutique event and production company. Founded by husband-and-wife team Jacq Driscoll and Michael (Mikey) Richardson. They specialise in transforming spaces into immersive cultural experiences, supporting local talent, and crafting events that reflect the unique character of each place and its people.
Composition
Winter Cyan is a multidisciplinary artist working to bring more original live music to contemporary circus. Working as a professional acrobat, musician, composer and sound engineer; her experiences across fields provide a unique perspective and approach to creative work, and to working with other artists.
Design Inspiration
“Human connection to nature has declined
60% in 200 years”
“Those with the highest levels of nature connectedness are 1.9 more likely to have the highest levels of quality of life”
Studies have found that people who are connected with the natural world around them have better mental health outcomes and are more likely to act in an environmentally friendly way. A recent study also found that the last 200 years has seen a huge drop off in environmental connectedness. This study found a lack of nature-based experiences (due to urbanisation) and a lack of passing down an appreciation for nature intergenerationally as leading causes for this reduction (Modelling Nature Connectedness Within Environmental Systems: Human-Nature Relationships from 1800 to 2020 and Beyond, 2025.)
It is in the area that we hope Minutiae will have the largest impact, by providing an artistic experience that is set within the natural world, open to all ages, and motivates people to actively participate and find joy in connecting with nature. By setting up and presenting in parks and other outdoor spaces, we hope to catch audiences in their everyday environment, and normalise engaging in arts experiences.
Costuming
Natural fibres with prints aiming to capture the colours of the Australian landscape created using native foliage. No purchase of new garments.
Set and Lighting
A show that uses the natural surrounds as its set, highlighted by organic inspired lighting.
Composition
A melding of soundscapes and musical pieces that reflect urban environments and the tension/relationship between metropolitan and natural sounds.
Gallery
Supported By
