Meet the Crackup Sisters..

The Crackup Sisters have been entertaining people all their lives and when they're not causing mischief in Winton (their home) they travel around Australia cracking up audiences and defying gravity where ever they go!

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3 in Winton
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With a burning passion to share joy and the spirit of Outback Australia, we make stories to make you laugh, learn, think and connect.

Each sister brings her own skills and quirks to the stage. We’ve all performed since we were kids, and trained around the world in the fields of stock whip cracking, knock about acrobatics, circus, aerial acrobatics, dance, hula hoop, handstands, comedy, clowning, acting and animal training. Each dedicating our lives to our crafts, our health to maintain our ability and care for one another.

The lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands are real perfectly formed from hours of laughing, practicing and giving things a crack!

To ensure that we can deliver the work we want, in the places we want, we’ve done other stuff like:

  • PHD in Choreography

  • BA in Circus Arts

  • Rigging Licence

  • Heavy Vehicle Truck Licence

  • Private Pilot License

  • Bush Mechanic

  • Permaculturist

  • Backyard Builder

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What Do We Do?

  • Festivals

  • Pub Shows

  • Rodeo Clowns

  • Main Arena Shows

  • Special Events

  • Homestead Shows

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The Crackup Sisters Family Yarn

Born and bred in Winton Outback Queensland, the Ruth Sisters grew up with dirt on their faces, warm hearts and mischievous minds chucking cartwheels and creating routines on the hills hoist. Mum Ruth, a dancer twirling her way around the globe, Dad Ruth, a truckie who could arm wrestle and drag race with the best. The sisters were chips off the old block. S.T (the oldest of the sisters) was left to raise the rabble of tackers in Winton, and The Crackup Sisters were born.

In 2009, S.T.Ruth and B-Ute had their first ever gig (except for at home of course) at The Beaudesert Horse Festival. Halfway through that first show, they had to clear out for the street parade. So, with half a show under their belts, they headed to the airport... to the biggest outdoor show in the world, The Calgary Stampede in Canada!

With such huge beginnings, it lit a fire in their bloomers. We borrowed a ute and a caravan and went down the road performing at Agricultural Shows, festivals and anywhere that wanted a laugh. With a bag of whips, a whole lot of grit, imagination, bruises, bumps, scratches, dodgy costumes and fears of being thrown to the dogs they started to tell stories in their own unique way... and the Australian audiences loved them.

Along the way B-Ute got knocked up so she went out into the breeding paddock and Struth gave the other sisters, Rowdy, Pickles, Twiggsie and Iffy (who by this stage where all causing chaos on stages around the world) a bell and they returned to roost in Winton.

With support from Australia’s leading outback showmen and women like The Ashton’s Circus, Fred and Sandy Brophy, The Showmen’s Guild and The Gill Brothers Rodeo Co. the sisters put their heads down (bums up) and got cracking.

Right now we feel we have so much. We’ve built our house in the main street of Winton, we tour with our trailers for stages, dogs, horse, bull, cow, mini motorbikes and more props and tutus than you could poke a stick at. We clock up some serious k’s, we have big ideas, big yarns and we are keen to make our mark in Australian history and find all the stories that have led us to here.

We hope that our shows remind people of the spirit of imagination, the generosity of live performance and getting out and having a go.