Cultural Back-to-School | A Circus Autumn

The cultural return of the circus world often involves the resumption of international tours. But this fall, several proposals are on the table until the holiday season. Here is an overview of what you can see in the metropolis and its surroundings.

Funny Bird Festival

Montreal circus artist Maxim Laurin has just launched the Drôle d’oiseau Circus Festival with the artistic director of the Théâtre Desjardins at Cégep André-Laurendeau, Alexandre Provencher. At least six shows have been scheduled, including the fabulous Play Deadfrom the People Watching collective. Drôle d’oiseau is looking to present an auteur circus, says Maxim Laurin, who has also invited the Projet Sanctuaire collective to the Parc des Rapides in LaSalle. The Marguerite à bicyclette company, which won the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal this year, will also present two family shows.

From September 6 to 8 at André-Laurendeau College

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ech₂osystemby Geneviève Dupéré

Last summer, we talked about this crazy project that designer, researcher and creative director Geneviève Dupéré has been working on for five years. It is an aerial show in 18 tableaux told using a maritime acrobatic device suspended above the river – which looks like a German wheel. During this 90-minute show, you will also be able to hear all the sounds that were recorded on board the boats that the artist has used over the last five years. ech₂osystem will be presented at 5:30 p.m. in Pointe-aux-Trembles. Hopefully other dates will be added before the cold season.

September 7 at the East Beach of Pointe-aux-Trembles

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Have a good tripfrom Cirque Éloize

Last chance to see Éloize’s new creation, Have a good tripwhich tells the story of Dalhousie Station, home to the company’s headquarters. The acrobatic show, with 360-degree projections, tells the story of the departure of the Pacific Expresswhich left Montreal’s Dalhousie train station on Berri Street on June 28, 1886, to make the first transcontinental journey to Vancouver. Yes, there are clichés and commonplaces, but director Fernand Rainville still offers us original segments while immersing us in the history of this unusual place.

Until September 15 at Dalhousie Station

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Duel Realityof the 7 Fingers

Created in 2019 for Virgin’s first cruise ship, this 7 Fingers show directed by Shana Carroll enjoyed a second life in theaters after the pandemic. Duel Reality is a free acrobatic adaptation of Romeo and Julietwhich features a dozen circus artists, under the musical direction of composer Colin Gagné. The troupe will perform at TOHU 20 years after presenting its first show there, Loftduring the inauguration of the famous circular hall in Montreal North.

From October 16 to November 17 at TOHU

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Kintsugifrom Circus Machine

Kintsugia Japanese term that could be translated as the art of magnifying imperfections, is the new creation of the Machine de Cirque company (The Gallery, Ghost Light, Unfaithful robot). Presented for one night only at Place des Arts – for now – the acrobatic piece will feature eight acrobats, including Raphaël Dubé, one of the co-founders of the Quebec troupe. In this production, it is about “immobile travelers” who are unaware of both the time of departure and the destination.

November 15 at the Maisonneuve Theater

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Royal Pub7 Fingers and The Tribe

Created in Quebec in November 2023, barely a week after the death of singer Karl Tremblay, the musical Royal Pub is first and foremost a musical tribute to the Cowboys Fringants – the group’s latest album, which includes several songs from the show, was released earlier this year – but it is delivered on stage by a troupe of seven acrobats and seven dancers who give body and soul to the Cowboys’ repertoire. The fictional story is carried by the voices of Martin Giroux, Richard Charest, Kevin Houle and Alexia Gourd.

From December 4 to 22 at the Théâtre Maisonneuve

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HA HA HAfrom Okidok

This is a clown duo that you won’t want to miss. Belgians Xavier Bouvier and Benoît Devos have been performing this show for over 20 years with the same success. In the play HA HA HAwhich has been presented here at least twice (in 2006 and 2011), these two lifelong friends, who have a touch of Laurel and Hardy, are blowing each other’s pipes as best they can. Without saying a word, they manage to create a play space where their friendship, with all the tensions one can imagine, is expressed in all sorts of ways.

From December 18 to January 5, 2025 at TOHU

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Eggfrom Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil has a habit of presenting its oldest touring shows during the holidays. This year, management is taking over Egg (egg in Portuguese), one of the rare Cirque shows directed and choreographed by a woman, the Brazilian Deborah Colker. Created in Montreal in 2009, the show was presented at the Bell Centre in the winter of 2016 during its arena run. It will therefore be presented again during the Holidays with its fifty acrobats and musicians.

From December 27 to January 5, 2025 at the Bell Centre

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Crystalfrom Cirque du Soleil

The Cirque will be returning at the end of December to its first acrobatic ice show created in Quebec City in the winter of 2017. A show staged by two of the co-founders of 7 Doigts, Shana Carroll and Sébastien Soldevila, which was presented at the Bell Centre during the holidays last year. Crystal tells the story of a young girl, who crosses the mirror of ice like Alice in Wonderland to enter an imaginary world. The ice acrobatics are accompanied by projections and mapping which are particularly successful.

From December 26 to 29 at the Videotron Center in Quebec

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