About Joe Bolton
Joe Bolton, director of Suitcase Circus, has a reputation as a skilled and conscientious teacher, performer and producer.
His work history presents an impressive track record of productions, theatre, television, film, live performance, community arts, professional events and teaching in a variety of creative fields from an early age.
Joe has provided a great many performing arts/physical education programs for a broad range of schools and organisations.
He is well known for an engaging form of collaborative circus project, culminating in a student performance, often involving an entire school or local community group.
With a considerable body of work in circus projects for schools, Joe continues to focus on developing key educational aspects of the Suitcase Circus program.
Which Schools has Joe Bolton worked with in recent years?
Some spotlights on a curious career...
Son et lumière
Joe studied Anthropology and English Literature at The University of Western Australia. Around the turn of the millennium he began to develop his audio production and multimedia skills and went on to spend some time teaching sessions in advanced photoshop techniques and flash action-scripting for animation and web at SAE Institute (School of Audio Engineering) Perth.
Live DJ mixes as a broadcaster on RTR FM’s late night Rhythm Trippin’ show were another highlight of this time.
WA’s first Captain Starlight
In 1999 Joe Bolton was invited by the Starlight Children’s Foundation to help establish and manage their Starlight Express Room at Princess Margaret Hospital and set up a presence for their work in Western Australia.
Along with outreach programs, live entertainment and Starlight TV, an in-house live broadcast for children in hospital.
Journey to the East
Joe, along with the Bolton family and joined by performer Mei Dan, represented Australia at the 1993 International Acrobatic Festival in Wuqiao, China.
Suitcase Circus was awarded an original performance prize, featured in the grand street procession and appeared in the festival showcase finale which was broadcast live on China Central Television.
Clowning Around
Joe Bolton had both cast and creative roles in the ABC TV/Barron Films production ‘Clowning Around’ performing circus skills and clowning double for the lead role of ‘Sim’.
He was also involved behind the scenes in pre-production circus choreography and circus skills training for the cast.
Music Theatre
As a teenager Joe dabbled in musical theatre with a role as ‘Woodstock’ in the Hole-In-The-Wall Theatre production of ‘Snoopy the Musical’.
He was also the youngest member of the cast in ‘Barnum the Musical’ with Perth Theatre Company performing a season at His Majesties Theatre.
Junior Stage Manager
Joe worked alongside his father at countless community circus events, growing up with a solid foundation in social circus.
He was also there for some of his mum's award-winning solo mime and dance shows. Annie Stainer's ground-breaking ‘Moon’, ‘Lilith’ and ‘Changing Woman’.
Joe was around, learning the ropes, laying the gaffer tape, training the jugglers, operating the follow-spot.
A Circus Kid
Young Joe (Pictured Age 7) was a member of several performing circus troupes including Pilton Children’s Circus and Salisbury Children’s Circus.
Aged 10, at an International Unicycle Convention in Syracuse, New York he was awarded first place as a junior in the 50 metres juggling on a unicycle race.
An Early Start on Stage.
From the time he learnt to walk Joe was on stage with his family in numerous children’s theatre shows performing as ‘The Long Green Theatre Company’.
Based in the UK at that time they performed at many International Festivals together, in more than 20 countries around the world from 1975-1985.
These tours included returning by invitation for festivals in Japan, USA, Singapore & Australia.
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Young Joe - On The Road.
