Published April 2025
Pheonix-like, Hamilton’s Flipside Circus has risen from the ashes to take out the Gold Matilda Award in February after a fire badly damaged their circus centre in January 2024.
Flipside CEO and artistic director Robert Kronk said they had a “record year of working in regional remote communities” last year, touring across 40 remote communities in Queensland.
Mr Kronk said the award was “a big boost for morale for the whole organisation”.
“I was genuinely very surprised, and it was so lovely to receive the award and be acknowledged by the sector,” he said.
After the fire, which caused significant smoke and water damage and destroyed most of their equipment, they were not able to return to the centre until September.
Over 250 individual donors raised more than $30,000 within a few weeks to help the circus get back on its feet.
“In those first few days when we were feeling so vulnerable, to know that the community was backing us and helping made a huge difference,” Mr Kronk said.
Now they are back home in their Brisbane Circus Centre, Mr Kronk said “exciting stuff is happening”.
“Our Step Ups and Performance Troupe are working on a brand-new show which will premiere in May.
“We’re setting up a whole lot of new circus programs in schools and communities all across Brisbane,” he said.
They will also continue their regional touring across Queensland three times this year.
