Each year the Noel Tovey Achievement Award is presented to a talented emerging artist who has given an extraordinary performance or has shown exceptional talent or leadership skills within their community. This year Phunktional is pleased to be present the 2014 Noel Tovey Achievement Award to Zachariah Johnson from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia’s National Youth Circus.

This acknowledgement of excellence has been awarded to Zach following his outstanding performance in the Flying Fruit Fly Circus’ acclaimed production of ‘Circus Under My Bed’ at the Arts Centre as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2014.

Noel Tovey was moved and impressed by Zach’s memorable performance as the ‘sad clown’ and has named him the recipient of his annual award, which includes a cheque for $1,000 to help support his emerging career as a professional circus artist.

Zach graduates from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus at the end of this year and the award will be presented to him by last year’s recipient, indigenous rap artist Phillip Murray, along with the Circus’ own achievement awards, on:
Thursday 18th December at 6pm, Circus HQ in Albury.

About the Noel Tovey Annual Achievement Award and Phunktional:

Phunktional – an arts company based in Melbourne that works with young people in communities around Australia – is proud and privileged to recognise and celebrate inspirational and prolific performing artist Noel Tovey and honour him through an award celebrating the achievements of emerging artists. Noel works with Phunktional and chooses the winner from a list of nominees and presents the award at a gala event each year.

Noel Tovey has a career spanning 54 years in Europe and Australia as an indigenous actor, dancer, singer, director, choreographer, designer, writer and teacher. Some of his many career highlights include: principal dancer with Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet; receiving the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Award for The Living Floor Project which he wrote and directed; and most recently writing and performing his award winning autobiography Little Black Bastard for festivals and theatres across Australia and internationally.

More information or images: Donna Baldwin dbaldwin@fruitflycircus.com.au