Quarry shines as spectacular venue for In Common circus

More than 500 people gathered under clear autumn skies on Saturday 18 April for In Common, a breathtaking contemporary circus performance by Melbourne-based One Fell Swoop Circus, experiencing the Warrnambool Community Garden’s quarry amphitheatre in a whole new way.

For the first time, the sandstone cliffs of the transformed quarry were illuminated as a dramatic stage, revealing the site’s potential as one of Warrnambool’s most unique outdoor event venues.

A stunning fusion of circus and engineering

At the heart of In Common was a large-scale tensegrity structure, an intricate system of steel poles, ropes, and tensioned cables that appeared to float above the quarry floor.

Designed by co-director and engineer-acrobat Jonathan Morgan alongside rigger Beau Dudding, the structure acted as a living sculpture, shifting and responding as performers climbed, balanced, and flew through it.

This interplay of trust, physics, and shared load mirrored the very themes of the performance: the invisible forces that hold communities together.

A perfect match of place and purpose

Set against the dramatic sandstone walls, the performance echoed the story of the quarry itself. Once considered an eyesore, the site has been transformed over more than a decade into an award-winning community garden and amphitheatre, recognised in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards and as a Banksia Sustainability Awards finalist.

Events like In Common demonstrate that the Warrnambool Community Garden is more than just a place to grow food. It is a space for creativity, connection, learning, and shared experiences, where arts, environment, and community intersect.

Convenor Courtney Mathew reflected on the significance of the event: “Seeing the quarry come alive in this way is incredibly special. It’s a space with so much history and natural beauty, and we’re excited to explore new and creative uses that bring people together.

This performance reflects what our community garden is all about: connection, care and collaboration.”

A full community experience

The event extended beyond the main performance, creating a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere:

• Live music from Rosie and Nicola, Zoe Borthwick Music, and DJ J4ck4lope

• Circus workshops with more than 30 children exploring acrobatics and building mini tensegrity structures

• Kids’ activities including hula hoops, thanks to Bec and Amplify

• Food trucks, a bar, and picnic blankets for the community to gather

The pre-show workshops were a standout, with young participants gaining hands-on experience in balance, teamwork, and creative play.

A space with growing potential

With over 500 attendees, In Common highlighted the quarry amphitheatre as a powerful community asset, capable of hosting performances, workshops, cultural events, and gatherings that bring people together in meaningful ways.

This growing use of the space supports:

• Community connection and wellbeing

• Local arts and cultural activation

• Education and hands-on learning opportunities

• Sustainable use of a rehabilitated landscape

• New partnerships and regional visitation

The Warrnambool Community Garden is now looking to build on this momentum and is seeking interest from individuals, groups, and organisations to shape future uses of the quarry space.

Whether you’re interested in events, workshops, performances, or creative collaborations, there is an opportunity to be part of what comes next.

A collective effort

This event was made possible by more than 25 volunteers, alongside the organising team and garden committee, whose efforts ensured the evening ran smoothly.

The garden extends sincere thanks to generous event supporters: Jamie Tait, Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, William & Lindsay Brodie Foundation, Ray & Joyce Uebergang Foundation, Jan Braun, Rod Sheard, Eda Ritchie, Dawn’s Production Solutions, Oaklands Productions, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Langley’s Holiday Accommodation, Hire Australia and Tim Edwards Audio.