He says | She says: Circus in Town

She said:

Circus is not necessarily my discipline now. It was only when I got to know my fellow writer that I learned that besides the overstimulation called knees, there is also something called "contemporary circus", which is more or less theatre with actors who are absurdly good at something funny. So when I am invited to the preview of "Mosaik" that evening, my expectations are not particularly high. I'm expecting a nice summer evening with young people who have prepared something nice.

But then it starts and I am blown away. The eight teenagers and young adults enter the stage (a stage, by the way, that looks completely uninteresting at first sight) and I have tears in my eyes because I am so touched by their seriousness, care and dedication.

It's a very quiet, poetic play, accompanied by versatile, perfectly tuned live music. Perhaps the plot can be summarised roughly like this: A homogeneous group (represented with colour-assorted overalls and group choreography) meets and approaches an (incredibly sympathetic, good-humoured and funny) outsider. And this is where the stage comes into play again, because what it can do is set up the back part beyond the 90-degree angle. This has comedic potential and offers an incredible number of possibilities: Sometimes you think you are in a parkour performance, then again aerialists swing through the liana forest. And the phenomenal diabolo number by Jano Schorno, born in 2008, cannot go unmentioned either: the audience laughs hysterically because they don't know where to put their feelings.

And then it's over, and I'm still crying and getting all nervous thinking how I'm going to get all my friend:s to actually go there.

He says:

First, I lay my cards on the table: Circus Chnopf was my first employer after university. Although my letter boasts of impeccable independence today, I don't want to deny that a personal sympathy has remained.

Fortunately, Circus Chnopf does not depend on this at all. Its production this year is beautiful - and I haven't found that every year. Contemporary circus seeks to connect with theatre and dance. And this year, director Tim Plegge comes completely from dance. Although he once went to circus school in Bordeaux, he eventually became a choreographer after studying at the renowned Hochschule Ernst Busch Berlin. He told us after the preview that this directorial work was in fact the first time he had ever directed outside the field of dance. You can see that - and the result is really something to be proud of!

As a youth development project, the Chnopf's stage ensemble always consists of half young people and half professionals. In "Mosaic", these two groups merge into a single unit, making the most of the stage rearing up under their feet in an enchanting open-air spectacle that is acrobatic, poetic and funny in between.

Framed by a friendly bar, popcorn, ice cream from the famous Gelateria di Berna and a charming circus flair, "de Chnopf go luege" is a perfect summer outing - not only for families.

Circus Chnopf - Mosaic
The world is rocked

When and where:
30 August - 3 September at Stadtpark Uster
6. -10 September at the Winterthur campsite
13. -16 September at the Josefwiese Zurich

The performances will be played on hat collection and will only take place if the weather permits.
Performance times and further information

Pictures by Annik Vanal