Benjamin Knapton
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Personal Details
Name: Dr Benjamin Knapton
Phone Number: +61 403 849 048
E-mail: benknapton@gmail.com
Publications: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16583/
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/78129/
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Benjamin Knapton is an independent Australian director who works across theatre, contemporary circus and film, as well as being the Associate Director of Brisbane-based Circa. With Circa Ben has created, directed and co-directed new circus works and large-scale events that have toured extensively to major international festivals and venues.
As an independent director Benjamin has worked with festivals and companies including Festival 2018, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Sziget Festival, The Barbican, Stalker, Brink Productions, Bleach Festival, HOTA and QPAC. Ben’s popular new creation Mallakhamb Mumbai premiered at the Commonwealth Games ‘Festival 2018’ and subsequently toured to India, Hungary and Mexico. The show has performed for 25,000 people including a sold-out-season at the Royal Opera House Mumbai. In 2019 Benjamin directed the inaugural ‘Calling Home’ concert at HOTA on the Gold Coast featuring William Barton, Yirrmal, Lior and Parvyn Singh. In 2020 Ben premiered a new 40-channel video installation called Ephemera for Brisbane’s Metro Arts.
Benjamin has also produced and managed a number of international tours and new projects, including projects with London Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Festival (How Like an Angel), International Dance Festival Birmingham (Wings of Desire), MA Scene National in France (Before Your Eyes / Devant Vos Yeux) and the film adaptation of Tim Winton's The Turning. He holds a BA in Applied Theatre, an MA in directing, and a practice-led PhD in directing. Ben’s Masters won the prestigious Philip Parsons Prize.
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Education
PhD (2013) Queensland University of Technology
Master of Arts (research) (2007) Queensland University of Technology
Winner of the ‘Philip Parsons Prize’
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Theatre (2004) Griffith University
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Professional Experience – Positions Held
Associate Artistic Director
CIRCA (2014 – 2016)
Associate Director
CIRCA (2010 – 2014 / 2017-20)
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Acting Artistic Director
CIRCA (December 2012, January 2013)
Board Member
Festival of Australian Student Theatre (FAST) (2012-2014)
Curator
La Boite Theatre Company Indie season
Brisbane Festival Under the Radar Program
Guest Lecturer and Sessional Academic
Queensland University of Technology (2005 – 2011) and Griffith University (2004 – 2010)
Subject areas include: Performance Studies, Creative Writing and Cultural Studies
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Professional Experience – Creations
Reviews available upon request
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EPHEMERA (40-channel-video-installation)
Creator and Director
Commissioned by Metro Arts Brisbane
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CALLING HOME (HOTA)
Director
The inaugural theatrical concert as part of HOTA's outdoor series featuring Camarata, The Australian Voices, Lior, William Barton, Parvyn Singh and Yirrmal.
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WOLFGANG (Circa)
Co-Creator and Associate Director
Toured to 5 countries performing over 200 times. Notable venues include The Barbican Centre, Edinburgh Fringe, New Zealand Opera House, Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018: THE OFFICIAL ATHLETE'S VILLAGE WELCOMING CEREMONY
Director
Commissioned by Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 and Produced by Bleach Festival
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MALLAKHAMB MUMBAI
Creator and Director
World Premiere commissioned by Festival 2018, Commonwealth Games Arts and Cultural Festival. Toured to Sydney Festival, Royal Opera House Mumbai, Sziget Festival, Escenica du Mexico and Festival du Luxe, Melbourne.
MEMORIAL (Brink Productions)
Associate Director
World Premiere Adelaide Festival. Toured to Brisbane Festival and The Barbican Centre, London
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HE DREAMED A TRAIN
Director / Designer / Dramaturg
World Premiere Brisbane Powerhouse 2014 with return season in 2017.
7 Matilda Award nominations
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ENGLISH BAROQUE (Circa and Brandenburg Orchestra)
Associate Director
World Premiere Sydney City Recital Hall. Toured to Melbourne Recital Hall and QPAC Concert Hall
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SPANISH BAROQUE (Circa and Brandenburg Orchestra)
Associate Director
World Premiere Sydney City Recital Hall. Toured to Melbourne Recital Hall and QPAC Concert Hall
ONE BEAUTIFUL THING (Circa, Asia Topa and Arts Centre Melbourne)
Producer and Associate Director
World Premiere Asia Topa Festival 2017
HOW LIKE AN ANGEL (Circa)
Associate Director / Touring Director
World Premiere Perth International Arts Festival 2012. Toured to Lincoln Centre’s White Light Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Barbican Theatre, Salisbury Festival, Brighton Festival, London Festival and Olavsfestdagene Festival in Norway.
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CREATURE INTERACTIONS – INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP (Stalker Theatre / QPAC)
Director
World Premiere Out of the Box Festival for 3-8 year Olds, 2016
HORIZON WITH ANGELS (Circa)
Co-Director
Created for Bleach Festival
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WUNDERKAMMER (Circa)
Revival Director
Chamaeleon Theatre Berlin. 6-month season.
BEFORE YOUR EYES / DEVANT VOS YEUX (Circa)
Director
World Premiere MA Scène Nationale, France
THE TURNING: IMMUNITY (Circa and Robert Connolly)
Producer / Associate Director
Australian Premiere Melbourne International Film Festival
International Premiere Berlin International Film Festival
LOVE SONG CIRCUS (Circa and Katie Noonan)
Co-Director
Toured to Adelaide Festival, Sydney City Recital Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Adelaide Cabaret Festival
WUNDERBAR (Circa)
Director
Created for Brisbane Festival
‘S’ (Circa)
Artistic Associate
World Premiere Brisbane Festival 2012
Touring to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hungary, France, USA, UK, Montevideo, Uruguay, Chile, Spain, Belgium
WINGS OF DESIRE (Circa and International Dance Festival Birmingham)
Associate Director
Created for International Dance Festival Birmingham
NOCTURNE (Circa)
Associate Director
Created for Seoul Performing Arts Festival
GAIJIN
Director / Writer / Designer
World Premiere Brisbane Powerhouse. Toured to Garden’s Theatre
STRANGE FAMILIAR ANGEL (Circa)
Director / Designer
Created for Brisbane Festival 2010
ON AIR (Circa)
Assistant Director
Created for Out of the Box Festival for 3-8 year olds
GENESIS
Director / Writer / Designer
Created for Brisbane Festival 2009
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Other Employment (a selection)
Masterclasses and workshops with groups including: International Student Drama Festival, QUT Executive Master of Business students, Drama Queensland, Metro Arts, Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, Spina-Bifida Foundation.
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Awards
Helpmann Awards as part of Circa (2013 and 2015)
Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production for "S" (Circa and Brisbane Festival), Best Regional Touring Production for CIRCA (toured by Performing Lines for Road Work), Best Regional Touring Production for Festival of Circa (Circa)
Philip Parsons Prize (2009)
Awarded by Australasian Drama Studies Association
APA scholarship (2008)
Full funding for PhD research awarded by the Australian Government
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