The Country informs the knowledge. Knowledge creates story. Stories shape the people and Culture. Where do we stand when Country is displaced and divided?

Footscray Community Arts proudly presents the world premiere of In Place, an ambitious and challenging new contemporary circus work by Na Djinang Circus that delves into connections with humanity, Culture and place. The culmination of 12 months dedication, In Place erupts into Footscray’s outdoor amphitheatre from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 October.

Grounded in time by people and place, this unmissable performance of acrobatic skill combines local flora, circus and sophisticated modern storytelling, while bringing together contemporary practice and rich cultural connections. The work champions native flora and fosters a deep sense of connection to the land of Naarm.

In place Director and founder of Na Djinang Circus, Wakka Wakka man Harley Mann provides the First Nations perspective behind this project. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a complex understanding of plants and the environment. Over generations they have listened to the land and learnt what can be used as foods, medicines and seasonal indicators. This knowledge is embedded and passed down through stories and tradition.”

Working closely with Iramoo Grassland Centre Nursery at Victoria University, four local plant species and their unique histories form the core creative vision of In Place, inspiring the physical circus skills and movements within the show.

For the past year 100 local participants have cared for a native plant, growing alongside each other to discover a deep connection with the land, the work and themselves. The journey of these plants informs the performance – a coming together of art with nature to delve into society’s impact on the land and its impact on us.

The plants will become part of Footscray Community Arts’ native garden where they will continue to grow and tell the stories of country in the West.

Directed by Harley Mann, In Place features Na Djingng Circus ensemble members Isabelle Champagne-Chittick, Johnathan Brown, and Manelaya Kaydos-Nitis with guest artists Zach Johnson, Maggie Church-Kopp, and Michael Mcdonald.

Na Djinang Circus is a Melbourne based contemporary circus company working with diverse young artists to share unique insight with the next generation’s Hands & Feet. Founded by Wakka Wakka man Harley Mann, Na Djinang Circus aims to develop work that utilises the next generation’s social and political attitudes and tell stories that challenge our own perceived ideas about contemporary Australian society. The company’s work explores fundamental human characteristics from an indigenous perspective, using the body to demonstrate complex human experiences of trust, connection, vulnerability, and joy.