Tutti Frutti, is a circus company founded by Maryke del Castillo in 2001. Penny Lowther has been performing with the company since 2007. Maryke has worked with Nina Carew (2000-2002) and Charmaine Childs aka “Betty Brawn” (2002-2006). The company’s work has been developed with the help of some very funny people including Angela de Castro (Slava Snow Show), Sue Broadway (RaRa Zoo, Broadway & Co), Rudi Mineur (Rock N Roll Circus, Popeyed) ,Leeroy Hart (Circus Oz), Tom Greder (Oskar) and most recently has worked with Ira Seidenstein (Cirque d’Soleil).
Maryke was headed for a career in Osteopathy when she tripped over the Circus. She hasn't stopped falling over, hanging upside down and somersaulting ever since.
Maryke has worked professionally as a physical performer since 2002. She has trained in Dramatic and Circus Arts (1999-2002) and has also worked as an ensemble member for Circa (2005) and Circus Monoxide (2003) and was Head Trainer for Circus WOW (2001-2003) where she directed, choreographed and produced their debut show "What'sHerStory?" (2003). She worked with CahootsNI a childrens theatre company 2007-2009 in UK and performed in the Waterfront Halls Pantomine (UK); Robin Hood 2007/8 and Cinderella 2008/9.
She has performed in theatres cabarets in big and little top circus and Speigel Tents, in theatres, Opera Houses, in hospitals on cobbled streets in piazza alleyways, off a crane shaped like a giraffe and on a boat deck. She has recently discovered a passion for making things when worked as a prop maker for City Fusion- St Patricks Day Festival Project 2009 (Ireland) and The Beat Initiative Easter Parade 2009 (UK).
Penny has been a freelance circus/street theatre performer since 1999. Prior to joining Tutti Frutti, Penny was the Founder/Director and Performer with Circus WOW, a Women’s circus based in Wollongong, from 2000 to 2006. Penny created many acts, stage shows, street shows and site specific shows for local and Sydney based festivals and events.
Penny Lowther was the Artistic director of Vulcana Women’s circus in 2009 to 2010 where she specialised in creating street theatre, site specific shows and circus acts that provide exciting creative opportunities for community and emerging professional performers. She is passionate about clowning and physical comedy. Penny has also been a workshop facilitator, Expressive Arts therapist and Trainer in Circus, Theatre, Puppetry and Expressive Arts since 1995.