REAP

ROOKE’s Emerging Artist Program (REAP) is a mentorship program that springboards young artists into their career, bridging the gap between training and working professionally. This program supports aspiring young artists and emerging artists in the first few years of their career to expand their professional networks, see how ROOKE creates and tours work and develop a myriad of skills from performance through sustainable practice and producing to name a few. REAP is incredibly valuable to the artists it supports. They gain valuable experience and skills through one-to-one mentoring, personalised coaching, online sessions on creative practice and producing as well as shadowing ROOKE on tours.

The ROOKE team on tour in 2023 with the REAP participants.

Our 2025/2026 REAP Participants

  • Maly Schneiders Westbrook

    (she/her)

    Maly is a Tasmanian Circus Artist that has a love for all things movement from upside down to inside out. She spends most of her time teaching circus and yoga and if you can’t find her there she is mostly bush walking in the gorgeous Tasmania Wilderness.

    Image by Zoe Bate

  • Krystal Meakins

    (they/them)

    Krystal Amber is an enigma by all accounts. Growing up in regional WA, Krystal channeled their boundless energy into dance and gymnastics. Their love for performing and rolling on the ground led them to Circus and in 2021 they made the move to Melbourne to train at NICA. Inspired by their experiences Krystal partnered with Claire Million to create Darling and Daring Productions, a circus company dedicated to empowering emerging artists. 

    Image by Carlos F. Trujillo

Our 2024/2025 REAP Participants

  • A black and white photo of a performer in a bent-over pose with one leg extended back, holding a hula hoop around her waist and smiling at the camera.

    Anisah

    Anisah has adored being upside down for most of her life. After training in CIRCA’s Youth Troupe during her teenage years she joined Collective Circus. Anisah has performed in shows for The National Circus Festival, Brisbane Festival and Woodford Folk Festival and spent 2023 studying at NICA. Anisah specialises in acrobatics, hula hoops and creative tumbling.

    Image by Anais Stewart.

  • A woman with platinum blonde bob hair, red lipstick, wearing a turtleneck and leather jacket, looks to her right against a white textured wall.

    Fran

    Fran Reeve is an emerging multidisciplinary visual and performing artist living and working in nipaluna/Hobart. Fran is interested in examining the relationship between artwork and viewer.

Former REAP Participants

  • Georgia Wallace

    During her time in the ROOKE Emerging Artist Program, Georgia participated in a range of professional experiences that helped to launch her career as a circus artist. Highlights included writing a juggling and tumbling act with Lewie West, participating in the development and performances of Dekoor for Mona Foma, and participating in the creative development process for Nimble. 

    Georgia is currently performing in Mission to the Moon, a new children’s circus show produced by Highwire Entertainment. She also works as a trainer and Programs Administrator at Warehouse Circus in Canberra and is preparing for the Canberra Circus Festival 2025. 

  • Grady Lynch

    Grady was part of the inaugrual REAP program, commencing in 2023. He is grateful to have been brought along and included in many aspects of the Rooke rehearsal, making, performing, and touring processes. It has been a wonderful insight into how to conduct oneself in both and ethical and professional manner.

  • Ivy Marshall

    Originally from Cygnet, Ivy Marshall is currently studying at the prestigious National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne. During her time in REAP, Ivy performed trapeze in Up Late at Junction Arts Festival in 2023 and 2024. Ivy's experience in REAP helped her springboard into her further study and the networks she built have put her in contact with established Circus artists working around the world.

  • Seth Crane

    Seth joined Slipstream Circus in 2017, after becoming a huge fan of Cirque Du Soleil at the age of 12. Seth was part of the inaugural REAP program, commencing in 2023.