Acquist returns for free performances in Newcastle’s Civic Park fountain

21 January 2026

newy.com.au – Free outdoor performances of Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub’s site-specific work Acquist will be staged in the Civic Park fountain in Newcastle from Thursday 22 January 2026 to Saturday 24 January 2026.

The production uses water and the fountain’s shifting surfaces as part of the choreography, turning a familiar city landmark into a performance space. The program pairs the main work with live music, a First Nations performance and an artist talk at Newcastle Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon.

Catapult describes Acquist as a professional outdoor work performed on a floating platform and within the fountain itself, with six dancers moving through water, weather and reflections that can make it look like they are walking on water. The event is listed as free, with City of Newcastle funding noted in both tourism listings and the NSW Government’s events calendar.

Each night opens with live singing by Newcastle performer and composer Zackari Watt, who has written music for theatre and dance and is credited as the original composer for Acquist. The pre-show program also includes a First Nations performance by Zachary O’Donnell, a proud Gamilaroi Mari man, honouring Country.

A public artist talk will be held at 2pm on Saturday 24 January, with Catapult artistic director Cadi McCarthy joined by Miriam Kelly, Head of Curatorial and Exhibitions at Newcastle Art Gallery, and cast members discussing the choreographic process and the work’s connection to the fountain sculpture. Catapult says the session will focus on the inspiration drawn from Margel Hinder’s work and the collaborative steps involved in creating a dance piece for water and public space.

McCarthy said the concept began with the site itself: “I was approached by Kate Britton from the City of Newcastle to create a work in the beautiful sculptural fountain created by Margel Hinder.” Catapult’s background on the production says Acquist was originally commissioned for the New Annual arts festival in 2021, supported by City of Newcastle.

The fountain at Civic Park was designed by artist Margel Hinder after she won a 1961 competition, and was officially dedicated on 2 November 1966.

Acquist will be performed at Civic Park on Thursday 22 January, Friday 23 January and Saturday 24 January, with Catapult advertising a 6.30pm start each night. The Saturday artist talk is listed separately and will run ahead of the evening performance.