STEAM
currently in development
STEAM interrogates how patriarchal systems fracture women’s relationships with themselves and each other, while fuelling emotional suppression and violence in men. Through dance, acrobatics, physical theatre, text and vocals, we are creating an interdisciplinary, experimental work that holds both power and tenderness.
“Steaming” is a term we coined to describe the simultaneous experience of shame, rage, and humiliation - resulting in a strive for confidence and power. In men, we’re still often seeing this exerted as power over. As women, we’re feeling this steamy cocktail of emotions towards individuals, institutions and as an empathic response to the harrowing effects of patriarchy. But is it really helping anyone if we all keep steaming in our little bubbles of like-minded folk, polarising our views and demonising those we disagree with?
Now, we’re more interested in asking:
Where do we go from here?
In a world growing more divided, how can we come together?
Can we harness our power while making space for softness? For compassion?
We live in a time that demands we navigate discomfort, yet discussions around gender politics are often stifled by fear, guilt, or defensiveness. This work presents these complex topics in a way that promotes conversation and curiosity, rather than guilt, shame or silence.
Creative team:
Director, choreographer & performer: Cecilia Martin
Collaborating Performers: Jenni Large and Bridie Hooper
Dramaturgy & Creative Doula: Kate Harman
Artistic Associate & Mentor: Leah Shelton
Visual Design: Merinda Davies
Sound Designer: Guy Webster
The first research residency for this work was supported by Studio1’s Creative Funded Residency Program. We will continue to develop this work in 2026, with support from GUTS Dance Spill (your guts) Residency and Creative Australia.
Photography by Billie Wilson Coffey, Videography by Georgia Haupt
BREAK
What is it to break? What is it to fall apart? Ceci travelled the world as a professional acrobat for many years but after a series of accidents and complex injuries, the career she carefully crafted fell to pieces.
Now she’s somewhat healed, somewhat broken, actively defiant and left asking: what is the cost of our ambition?
Intensely personal and raw, Break is an autobiographical work that sits between dance, theatre and circus, an investigation into how we define ourselves and how we recover when our dreams shatter.
Break premiered at Home of the Arts (Gold Coast) and Metro Arts (Brisbane) in June 2023 and was nominated for Matilda Awards for Best Circus and Physical Theatre and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Independent Production) for Cecilia Martin.
More information on The Farm & Break here
This project has been assisted by Arts Queensland's Independent Creations Fund, Co Commissioned by HOTA and Metro Arts. The Farm is supported by the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Other performance work
My gateway to art began through circus. I performed and taught at Warehouse Circus and co-founded Poncho Circus, a company with which I co-directed works that toured throughout Australia from 2012-15. I went on to study at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne where I trained as an aerialist and found a passion for pushing the limits of duo and ensemble acrobatics. In 2016, I joined the ensemble at Circa Contemporary Circus where toured the world and created acrobatic shows with the company for five years.
After years of full-time touring, two major wrist injuries halted my ability to stand on my hands. Throughout my healing process I connected with Gold Coast company The Farm and was re-introduced to the world of dance and physical theatre. We began to work together on many projects and in 2023, I premiered my first solo, Break, in collaboration with The Farm and co-commissioned by Home of the Arts and Metro Arts. Nominated for two Matilda Awards, Break was my first work combining dance, autobiographical theatre and circus.
As a recipient of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant (2022) and a Lord Mayor’s Creative Fellowship (2024), I trained with Europe’s dance leaders, including Wim Vandekeybus, Damien Jalet, and Anouk van Dijk. In 2024-25, I completed a six-month residency at Tic Tac Arts Centre, Brussels, in which I was mentored in dance/improvisation by David Zambrano and performed my own improvisation-driven work.
I continue to collaborate and tour globally with dance, circus and theatre companies such as A Good Catch, Casus Creations, ROOKE and The Farm as well as create my own work.