Amanda-Lyn Pearson / National Regional Arts Fellow '25

Winton, QLD
Artform: Community Arts
Project Title: Outback Comedy Festival: Building Festival Leadership Capacity in Remote Outback Queensland 

Raised in regional and remote Queensland Amanda-Lyn has been engaged in the arts and entertainment for 25 years. Her passion is for sharing stories and characters through audience experiences, putting a spotlight local culture, artists, sharing knowledge and skill. Her first decade of work was based in Brisbane, working as a choreographer, dancer, clown and physical theatre performer. Including working with: Circa, Vulcana Women’s Circus, Polytoxic and independent productions. 

Decade two saw the co-birthing of The Crackup Sisters, creating physical comedy telling the stories of outback characters through clown, dance and Australian artforms stock whip cracking, hula hoop and knockabout acrobatics. The company annually tours 70,000km delivering arts engagement to remote and regional communities across Australia, coining the term ‘theatre in the paddock’. They’ve been named Storyteller of the year, featured at The Calgary Stampede in Canada, created bespoke large scale works for the most remote music festival in the world and the sisters stand as the only female comedy rodeo clowns in the world. 

In her third decade as an artist Amanda-Lyn has put down roots in remote Outback Queensland town Winton. Building a cultural tourism precinct, featuring a museum of Outback Artists, artist accommodation and The Dustarena amphitheater. As artistic director she engages up to 40 artists annually across genres to collaborate in creating and delivering authentic outback experiences for communities and visitors. The Regional Arts Fellowship will develop her capacity as a festival director and presenter, allowing for valuable time in upskilling and building relationships.

crackupsisters.com.au
@crackupsisters