Judith Lanigan

Circus comedienne, Hula hoop virtuosa, Burlesque Clown, Writer and Author

Miss Judith Lanigan is an international freelance circus artist. She is best known for her interpretation of the ballet divertissement ‘The Dying Swan’ which she performs with 30 hula hoops. This show has been performed in 12 countries and in English, Spanish, French, german, Italian and Japanese. Miss Judy is recognised by AUSTRADE as an official export product for her international touring with The Dying Swan. She was also the first Australian to study at the Moscow State Circus School.

Judith Lanigan’s writing experience includes novels, both fiction and non-fiction, 5 shows for international performance in six languages and a feature film treatment curently optioned by a UK based film producer. As a Self-produced artist she has successfully produced more than ten international tours of her work.

2008-2009
Current projects- Storyline for novel and Tv series set around the Theatre Royal and its artists in 1856 during the Goldrush and the collision of cultures due to that. Working Title – Rollo’s last dance at the Theatre Royal.

Black Swan – Tracing the artists indigenous heritage through the Swan in Corroboree dance and the culture of clown in indigenous performance.

Final Draft and Publication by Picador of ‘A True History of the Hula Hoop’
Performance program manger – Castlemaine State Festival June 2008- April2009

2007
Writing
Co writer and Dramaturgist The Samuel Dark Dinner Hour. (Newcastle Livesites) Location specific historical Dinner Circus/Theatre. The month season sold out straight after Opening Night.

A True History of The Hula Hoop (nonfiction novel) is one of 20 unpublished manuscripts selected from 500 for a mentorship programme by the Australian Society of Authors. Mentor Judith Lukin-Amundsen.

A True History of the Hula Hoop (non fiction novel) shortlisted for the Varuna Award. Withdrawn due to publishing contract signed with Picador Australia.

The Hula Hoop – a Serious Study of the Subject including the history of the hula hoop, its development, influnces, health benefits, artistes and illustrated ‘How To’ 150 pages 40 pictures 20 illustrations. Self Published.

Performance
‘A True History of The Hula Hoop’ – a Clown exposition of the history of the hula hoop based on the two manuscripts detailed above.

‘The Dying Swan’ and ‘Struth’ Canadian Tour . Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Red Deer.
Coffs Harbour International Buskers festival, Rotarua Arts festival (NZ) Tasmanian Circus Festival. Adelaide International Buskers Festival.

Circus Quirkus Sydney tour, Circus Quirkus New Zealand Tour.

2006
Writing
‘The Great Clown Kidnapping of 1572’ Feature Film Treatment optioned by Firefly Films, UK

First Draft completed – ‘A True History of the Hula Hoop’

Research for ‘The Hula Hoop A first Compendium’ A comprehensive study of the hula hoop, including its true history , its use in circus, profiles of artistes and an illustrated ‘How to Hula Hoop’ from beginners to advanced separations and manipulations. 200 pages

Dramaturgist – The Women’s Circus “ A plane without wings is a rocket”

Performance
BANG - The Perils of Miss Judy’ a burlesque clown theatre show exploring abuse and manipulation in relationships using circus and sideshow stunts.
‘Struth’ a escalation of ridiculous hula hoop stunts including singing the national anthem in a handstand while hula hooping. Premiered at the Festival of Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The Melbourne Festival for the Commonwealth Games 2006
European Tour Theatre festivals- Gorlitz, Torgau, Friedrichshafen, Caravan Im-Puls
The Women’s Comedy Festival. Applause festival NSW. The Taste of Tassie,
Warnambool Fun For Kids, Frenmantle Street Arts Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival

2005
Writing
‘Letter to Johnno’- a contemporary novel,
’Enter Kitty Deluxe' - A Burlesque Whodunnit novel, which includes a study of the history of Burlesque through my experience during a one month Burlesque contract in the UK.
Articles-5 Biographies of Stars of the Burlesque.
Jean Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, Amelie) expresses interest in ‘The Great Clown Kidnapping of 1572’

Performance
Ten Days On The Island Opening gala event
Newcastle Live Sites, Edinburgh Festival. Southbank
Go GO Burlesco, Edinburgh Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, producer John Pinder
‘.. the highlight of the show , how ever, was Miss Judy s wonderful – snd superbly funny- Dying Swan routine with hula hoops’ . Evening News , Edinburgh
‘…Judith Lanigans Superb Dying Swan routine done while shimmying inside and increasing number of hula hoops. Miss Judy casting feathers in a moulting feathery bikini keeps the hoops swivelling and the crowd very happy indeed.’ The Herald Edinburgh
‘.. and Miss Judy’s Dying Swan with hula hoops was fabulous and skilled’ The Scotsman

Noge Daidogei Japan. Performing the Dying Swan in japanese
Ten Days On The Island festival opening- The Dying Swan.
Street theatre Mentor Live Sites, Newcastle
Hula hoop workshops hula hoop intensive, Vulcana womens circus
Invited London International Workshop Festival, teaching Hula Hoopist

2004
Writing
‘The Great Clown Kidnapping of 1572’ (novel).
‘A Circus Whodunnit’.Theatreshow for Darth Vegas

Performance
London Comedy, cabaret, variety season sept-dec.
Best of the Brighton Comedy Festival. (‘Fantastic’Julian Clary)
Eurostar 10th Anniversary celebrations. Medium Rare Cabarets. New castle Street Festival Burleski@No 5

European Tour- The Dying Swan Streets of Brighton, Glastonbury Festival , Covent Garden Street Artists Festival, Cardiff Harbour Festival UK, Tete A Tete Festival , Klienes Fest Hannover, Ludwigsluft and Bad Pyrmont. Duchstein festivals in Kiel, Hamburg and Lubeck. Germany.
Aurillac Festival France. Oerol Festival Netherlands Premio Andersen Italy..
‘An excellent adaptation of a classical European theme with a highly intelligent winking from Down Under’. Marion Kunstlet, Tete a Tete festival Rastatt.

Australia Best of the Adelaide Fringe- the Universal Playground,
La Scientifica- Woodford Folk Festival, HulaHoopist- Family Nightclub
Hula Hoop workshops various festivals throughout Australia as part of performance contracts including Woodford Folk Festival,

2003
Writing
‘La Columbina’ (film Treatment)

Performance
The Great Moscow Circus – Guest Artist, September, Michael Edgely ‘s Australian Tour
Floriade- la Scientifica - Australian debut , as part of Floriades ‘the Heavens are in Bloom’

European Tour May-Sept 03 –the Dying Swan Trapezi Circus festivals Vila Nova, Vila Seca, Reus, Las Pallasses festival Andorra Spain, Galstonbury festival and the Bristol Circus Festival U:K. Artisti In Piazza, Premio Anderson, La Noche Della Streghe and Fratelli di Taglia, Italy, Bonheur Des Momes, and Pontarlier France, Koblenz Komedie Festival, Ludwigshafen Straat festival and Friedrichshafen festival,Germany Rotterdamm Straatfestival Netherlands

Studies in Magic with Magic Andreu, and Contortion with Ane Miren, Barcelona
Christchurch world Buskers Festival “her Dying Swan proved a crowd favouite”
Nelson Street Festival “Silly and sublime, an impressive Dance Of the Dying Swan,building to an improbably large number of hoops, and thunderous applause”
Hula Hoop workshops Escuelo de Circo de Rogelio Rivel, Barcelona
Created- La Scientifica - ‘A few little Things I Have Been Working On Back In The Lab’

2002
Writing
Co-writer co-producer THE BOREDOM PATROL, short clown film
Dramaturgist – ‘The Association of Extraodinary Waiters

Performance
‘Ulls Clucs’ 7th Cirque D Hiver ( winter circus ) Barcelona working in ensemble, 1 month rehearsal 1 month performances, with ensemble of Spanish, Catalan, french, Belgian, German performers german director. primary working language Spanish, secondary, french
“extraordinario, y muy sexy” (El Pais) “magnetica I sensuel…captiva tant quan canta com quan es llueix amb els cercols de hula-hop”
The Dying Swan Swan’ and ‘Tourist Fatale‘ European Tour
International Tour supported by The Australia Council and Arts Queensland
festivals include:
Tarrega, Leioa, La Marato, Vittoria, El Ejido, Almansa, (SPAIN)
La Plage Des Six Pompes, EXPO 02, Viva La Strada, (SWITZERLAND)
Linz Pflasterspekatakel, Villach, Feldkirch, (AUSTRIA)
Lowlands, (NETHERLANDS)
South Australian Tour, The Dying Swan, The AOEW, Tourist Fatale
The Adelaide Fringe festival, Information Technologies Congress, Mildura Arts Festival
“Ideal…diverse and thoroughly enjoyable” (Adelaide Fringe Festival Director Katrina Sedgewick)
“ Thank you for exceeding our high expectations” (Information Technology Congress)
Programmer- ‘Surfers Is paradise ‘ 4 month contract providing street animation , Surfers Paradise, with AOEW (The Association Of Extraordinary Waiters), Tourist Fatale, Daves Precision Driving Team
“Unique style and quality of entertainment” (Surfers Paradise Management Association)

2001
Writer
Writer Director ‘The Banquet Table’, the National Circus Festival The Festival Fire show.
Writer TV series Storyline ‘The Boredom Patrol’
created - AOEW, The association Of Extraordinary Waiters, an ensemble of circus artists and clown performing a menu of metaphors and stunts about food and wine
created - Tourist Fatale, a pair of clowns attempting industrial espionage undercover as tourists.

Performance
The Goodwill Games, The Peoples Fest of the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting, The Australian Cinematographers 2001 Awards, The Global Carnival, Southbank Corporation
“Very Professional, lovely choreographed moves between site specific work” (Verity Clisby, Southbank Corporation),
“Just right, excellent audience response” (Australian Cinematographers Society)
Tourist Fatale The Dying Swan tour regional Victoria, Sorrento Festival, Greensborough, Southgate Tourist precinct, and The Global Carnival NSW

2000
Created ‘the Dying Swan’
The Dying Swan ‘Debut’ European tour s Chalon Dans La Rue, Les Virevoltes, (France) Oerol, SAIL 2000, (Netherlands) La Plage Des Six Pompes, Viva La Strada, (Switzerland) Moers Komedie arts, (Germany)
Viladecans (Spain)
“Swan Diva, Judith Lanigans interpretation of the Dying Swan , adds a marvellous touch of craziness” (Arts Watch, The Sunday Mail)
“ Une artiste envoutante et pleine de vie, une demi heure de folie” (Chalons Dans La Rue)
Clown/Musician, (bass ukelele) TOASTER, resident band The Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Conference
Writer Director The Banquet Table, National Circus Festival Fire Show, Tasmania

1996-2000
Cirque de Lurk Annually toured various duo shows Cirque De Lurk through Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with clown/musician Jude Emmett
‘A Feast of Visual Comedy’ Canberra Festival
The Hula Hoop Flambe was the icing and the candle on the festival cake’ Port fairy Vic
Stockholm Water Festival, Helsinki arts Festival, Linz Pflasterspektakel, Viva la Strada, Oerol Festival, Vlissingen, Berlin Gauklerfestival, Feldkirch Gauklerfestival, Winchester Hat Fair, Virevoltes, Vila Realand many others
Studied hula hoops, Moscow State Circus School the first Australians to study there
TV HERCULES ‘The thirty foot chicken’ featured extra

1992-1995
Circus performer/musician, BIZIRCUS, Western Australia
The Big Boing, A Circus Romance, Nights at The Circus, Circus Absurdus, Outrageous. Plus huge amounts of regional touring of various parts of these shows. Company responsibilities- Design, Funding, Forward Planning
Designer, Bizircus Costuming an average of twelve circus performers in various acts. Designing and making aerial equipment, and skill specific props
Designer A Circus Romance Scale set design including kabuki bars, collapsing set, sugarglass windows, exploding toilet etc. Costuming 40 characters.

TV Stunt Double ‘Ship to shore’ doubling a schoolteacher falling off a ladder
Film ‘Under The Lighthouse Dancing’ featured extra, as circus performer Stunt stand in, water scenes for Jack Thompson, Jacquie Mackenzie
Hula Hoop workshops throughout regional Western Australia and Perth, for Bizircus
Funding and Co-ordination D’Castro Australian Tour
TV ‘Clowning Around Encore’ Circus performance extra,

Pictures and Video are contained on this site are not to be used without the permission of the artist Copyright Judith Lanigan 2009
Judith Lanigan has been supported by Austrade, Australian Society of Authors, the Australia Council for the Arts, Newcastle Livesites.