CIVIA
CIVIA — A Living Story of Place
Four Performers. Four Stories. One Journey. One Spectacular Finale.
CIVIA transforms a town, park, festival or city into a living theatre.
Four performers begin in four different locations, each uncovering a different story connected to the place around them. Through circus, physical theatre, comedy, music, storytelling and improvisation, audiences are invited to move through the landscape rather than simply watch from a seat.
But these are not stories that exist in isolation.
As each journey unfolds, performers and audiences encounter one another. Characters cross paths. Stories overlap. Objects, music and ideas travel from one location to another. Small audiences become larger ones until everyone eventually converges for one spectacular collective finale.
At the heart of CIVIA is a simple question:
What stories does this place hold?
Each incarnation of CIVIA is created with the community in which it takes place, with First Nations artists, Traditional Custodians and knowledge holders playing a central role in determining how stories of Country, culture and place are shared. Local artists, historians, environmentalists, families, young people and community members can contribute contemporary stories and memories, creating a living portrait of the place.
Rather than presenting history from a stage, CIVIA invites audiences to physically travel through it.
A creek becomes a story.
A tree becomes a character.
A street becomes a stage.
A local memory becomes a performance.
A landscape becomes a map.
And a community becomes part of the story.
CIVIA creates an opportunity for audiences to see familiar places differently — to discover the layers of knowledge, history, environment and human connection that exist beneath the everyday landscape.
It is theatre as a journey.
It is storytelling as exploration.
It is a celebration of Country, community and the stories that connect us to where we live.
CIVIA — Walk the story. Meet the place.
Four Performers. Four Stories. One Journey. One Spectacular Finale.
CIVIA transforms a town, park, festival or city into a living theatre.
Four performers begin in four different locations, each uncovering a different story connected to the place around them. Through circus, physical theatre, comedy, music, storytelling and improvisation, audiences are invited to move through the landscape rather than simply watch from a seat.
But these are not stories that exist in isolation.
As each journey unfolds, performers and audiences encounter one another. Characters cross paths. Stories overlap. Objects, music and ideas travel from one location to another. Small audiences become larger ones until everyone eventually converges for one spectacular collective finale.
At the heart of CIVIA is a simple question:
What stories does this place hold?
Each incarnation of CIVIA is created with the community in which it takes place, with First Nations artists, Traditional Custodians and knowledge holders playing a central role in determining how stories of Country, culture and place are shared. Local artists, historians, environmentalists, families, young people and community members can contribute contemporary stories and memories, creating a living portrait of the place.
Rather than presenting history from a stage, CIVIA invites audiences to physically travel through it.
A creek becomes a story.
A tree becomes a character.
A street becomes a stage.
A local memory becomes a performance.
A landscape becomes a map.
And a community becomes part of the story.
CIVIA creates an opportunity for audiences to see familiar places differently — to discover the layers of knowledge, history, environment and human connection that exist beneath the everyday landscape.
It is theatre as a journey.
It is storytelling as exploration.
It is a celebration of Country, community and the stories that connect us to where we live.
CIVIA — Walk the story. Meet the place.
Why CIVIA?
* A world-first performance format.
* Four solo shows, two duo performances and one epic ensemble finale.
* Audiences travel through the city as part of the story.
* Encourages repeat attendance and longer festival engagement.
* Adaptable to historic centres, parks, laneways and public spaces.
* Suitable for street theatre, arts, fringe, circus and cultural festivals worldwide.
* A world-first performance format.
* Four solo shows, two duo performances and one epic ensemble finale.
* Audiences travel through the city as part of the story.
* Encourages repeat attendance and longer festival engagement.
* Adaptable to historic centres, parks, laneways and public spaces.
* Suitable for street theatre, arts, fringe, circus and cultural festivals worldwide.
Created by Daniel Oldaker (Dandyman)
Award-winning Australian physical theatre artist Daniel Oldaker has spent more than 15 years touring between Australia and Europe, performing thousands of shows in over 30 countries.
His work spans street theatre, circus, stage, film and television, with appearances at many of the world's leading festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Festival d'Avignon, Chalon dans la Rue, Aurillac International Street Theatre Festival and FiraTàrrega. He has also appeared on the Italian television variety show Tu Si Que Vales and performed at the Sydney Opera House.
Daniel has trained with internationally renowned masters including Philippe Gaulier, Avner the Eccentric, Gardi Hutter, Tom Greder and John Bolton. His award-winning productions are celebrated for their physical comedy, improvisation and ability to create unforgettable connections with audiences.
Award-winning Australian physical theatre artist Daniel Oldaker has spent more than 15 years touring between Australia and Europe, performing thousands of shows in over 30 countries.
His work spans street theatre, circus, stage, film and television, with appearances at many of the world's leading festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Festival d'Avignon, Chalon dans la Rue, Aurillac International Street Theatre Festival and FiraTàrrega. He has also appeared on the Italian television variety show Tu Si Que Vales and performed at the Sydney Opera House.
Daniel has trained with internationally renowned masters including Philippe Gaulier, Avner the Eccentric, Gardi Hutter, Tom Greder and John Bolton. His award-winning productions are celebrated for their physical comedy, improvisation and ability to create unforgettable connections with audiences.
A New Vision for Festival Performance
For Daniel, CIVIA represents the culmination of a lifetime of touring, collaborating and learning from some of the world's most inspiring artists.
Bringing together his favourite collaborators from across Europe, the production combines the intimacy of solo performance, the chemistry of ensemble theatre and the spectacle of large-scale outdoor performance into one seamless theatrical journey.
Designed for major international festivals, CIVIA transforms cities into shared stages and audiences into fellow travellers, creating a theatrical experience that continues long after the final applause.
The city becomes the stage.
The audience becomes the journey.
Every performance leads to something bigger.
For Daniel, CIVIA represents the culmination of a lifetime of touring, collaborating and learning from some of the world's most inspiring artists.
Bringing together his favourite collaborators from across Europe, the production combines the intimacy of solo performance, the chemistry of ensemble theatre and the spectacle of large-scale outdoor performance into one seamless theatrical journey.
Designed for major international festivals, CIVIA transforms cities into shared stages and audiences into fellow travellers, creating a theatrical experience that continues long after the final applause.
The city becomes the stage.
The audience becomes the journey.
Every performance leads to something bigger.