Bridie Hooper is an award-winning circus artist using interdisciplinary collaboration (sound/visual art, participatory performance) to challenge her practice, re-contextualise her work & champion circus in experimental performance. 

Graduating from École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal in 2012, Bridie’s career spans over a decade of performing internationally, with renowned companies including GOP Varieté-Theater, Montréal Complètement Cirque, Reuben Kaye, Na Djinang Circus, Polytoxic, and a 9 year engagement with CIRCA.



Bridie’s practice is centered in circus and physical performance, but places huge value on working collaboratively with multidisciplinary forms including sound art, visual art, theatre, and participatory performance to extend, challenge and reframe her work. Her independent works include; INGRESS (2021, Matilda Award for Best Circus/Physical Theatre Production, Melbourne Fringe WA Touring Award 2022), For Whom The Bell Tolls (Night Feast, Brisbane Powerhouse, 2023) and Be Subservient To My Ambition (anticipated premiere 2025). 

Bridie was selected for The Unconformity Artist Residency (2023), the MICC Utopian Program (2024) and the Riksteatern Theatre Artist in Residence, Stockholm, 2024, to further develop her new work Exploitation of Effort.

Bridie Hooper - Director/Artist
Dr Anton Hasell - Bell design, tuning and fabrication.
Lawrence English - Composition
Liesel Zink- Dramaturgy
Steven May - Lighting design
Josh McIntosh - Set Design
Tom Pritchard - Producer premiere season, Brisbane Powerhouse 2023.
Imogen Millhouse - Stage Manager / FOH Engagement Co-ordinator Premiere Season
Peter Rhoades - Production Manager Premiere Season
Billie Wilson-Coffey - Creative Consultant premiere season

Activating local spaces, to foster broad and direct general public arts participation, this work engages audiences in an awe-inspiring, generous and authentic celebration of the hopes of their communities.

It is co-authored by participating audience members sharing their hopes, becoming a direct reflection of the stories of those who engage with it.

Witnessing the exchange between fellow peers/community and artist is a significant part of the experience; sharing vulnerability, honesty and connection to create a space of respectful cohesion & care.

Both expansive & intimate, For Whom The Bell Tolls engages with participators, audiences, and onlookers alike.

Current available resources:
Images
Video / trailer
Promo footage/ digital assets
Examples of past marketing copy
Examples of past instructional information to accompany work
Audience feedback of the work
Examples of past signage and printed instructional materials (flyers)

To be developed with future presentation:
Reviewed marketing copy
Reviewed social media marketing plan

We offer additional engagement opportunities that are devised in response to For Whom The Bell Tolls.

Radical Exchange Workshop in performance- 2 hrs:
Workshop focused on the foundational concepts of receiving and offering, within participatory performance. It involves a physical preparation of body and mind to ready oneself for creating space to listen, hear and hold space within the act of audience engagement. Max 10 participants, age range 18 + , experience in performance practice (dance/circus/theatre) required.

Radical Hope Workshop - 1.5 hrs:
Exploring hope as an action, through movement, connection and exchange, this workshop invites people to come along and connect with themselves, with one another, and with their hope. Through a curated framework we will explore individual availability to make space for interpersonal exchange. This workshop is about exploring hope as a radical act of universal understanding, kindness and interconnectedness. No performance nor physical practice experience necessary.

Devising Workshop - 2 hrs:
Workshop devising physical material through improvisation, using circus, movement and physical theatre. Participants must have experience in circus, dance or movement. Age range 16 +

Post-Show discussion: Must take place on show day. Requires facilitator.