Discover the Journey of Circus Monoxide
Circus Monoxide is NSW’s premier professional circus company based in Wollongong. An inclusive and ever-evolving centre for high flying, stilt walking, spinning, tumbling, fun-loving entertainers of all ages.
Our Beginning
Circus Monoxide is NSW’s premier professional circus company based in Dharawal Country in the Illawarra, City of Wollongong. Founded in 1996, it gained its name as a defiant gesture, railing against human-induced climate change in response to our birthplace at the Bathurst 1000 races. The company gained a significant reputation due to its iconic hazard striped bus that served as both performance space and living quarters for the artists. In its twenty-eight-year history the company has toured prolifically across Australia, presenting outdoor shows in regional centres and at major metropolitan festivals.
The Circus School
In the year 2000 Circus Monoxide established a permanent training facility in the Illawarra region, where we deliver high quality recreational, pre-professional and fitness training through circus arts to all ages and skill levels. This is where our youth performance troupe has collaborated with outstanding circus arts organisations across Australia including Ruccis Circus (Melbourne), Fling! Physical Theatre (Bega), Flipside Circus (Brisbane), Warehouse Circus (Canberra) and Corrugated Iron Youth Arts (Darwin). Circus Monoxide is committed to community outreach and provides access to local groups that represent marginalised members of society. We work with people with a disability, perform at aged care facilities, collaborate with refugee groups, sponsor disadvantaged students and partner with LGBTQI+ organisations.