Born in a Taxi

Born in a Taxi is one of Australia’s most highly regarded artist-led independent theatre companies.

Now in its 4th decade, it occupies a unique place in the Australian ecology. Recognised nationally and internationally for producing highly physical, contemporary and participatory works in wide-ranging performance contexts, from theatres, site-specific and public spaces and festival contexts that focus on real-time co-creation. Born in a Taxi is renowned for combining the experimental with the accessible, masterfully mixing serious intent with humour, and sophisticated clowning with contemporary performance with a focus on real-time creation.

Led by Co-Artistic Directors Penny Baron and Carolyn Hanna, Taxi collaborates with a diverse team of artists, production staff and a pool of performers trained in the company’s performance methodology, Ensemble Movement Improvisation (EMI) on any given project. EMI underpins the company's process, performances and ethos.

Taxi is increasingly turning their attention to social impact projects through deep engagement with a mission to unite audiences and participants in the spirit of play!

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About Born in a Taxi

Born in a Taxi is led by Co-Artistic Directors; Carolyn Hanna and Penny Baron.

Established in 1989, Born in a Taxi is an independent, artist-run and award-winning physical theatre company whose artists are internationally recognised as masters of improvisation.

For over thirty years, we have produced original, physically driven and participatory works in theatres, site-specific and outdoor contexts, that focus on real-time co-creation.

We find ourselves in an almost perpetual state of research and discovery, uncovering deeper nuances in the relationships between performer, audience, and place.

Our art form is ensemble movement improvisation, a play-based form. All our skills are tools for improvisation - dance, theatre, live art, film, visual art and sound. We select the devices that best tell the story and best connect with our audience.

Taxi increasingly shares our methodologies through teaching, and, since 2014, have begun turning our expertise to social impact projects – big ideas through deep engagement.

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No Performer Has Performed This Performance Before

“This particular sustained rigour, of creating and performing work together over many years, is unique, and it really shines…. the pure ambition of this commitment is both breathtaking and deeply reassuring. I mostly forget I am watching improvisation, it is polished and has a progression of structure that feels carefully thought out and planned...”
Witness Performance

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Th Waiting Room

“The Waiting Room is cutting-edge experimental theatre: a profound exploration of how we choreograph ourselves from chaos. What makes this piece radically beautiful is that it interrogates and embodies the random processes intrinsic to human behaviour. The Waiting Room is a living incarnation of fractal art.”
★★★★
Cameron Woodhead, The Age

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Enlighten

"Enlighten was an unconditional success, mesmerising, engaging, and entertaining. Delivering a transformative and uplifting experience for audiences of every age and culture."
David Atkins, Artistic Director White Night 2017

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The Whale's Tale

“The whale is spectacular with an eye that helps you believe it is not only alive but intelligent…. the show is very charming and has an environmental message that is important for people of all ages.”
Lynn Freeman, Capital Times NZ

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