For his 15the year, the management of the Montreal completely circus festival invited a few favorite companies like Circa (Australia) and Gandini (England), and programmed revivals like Bearded (Alfonse Circus) or Dirty Laundry (Briefs), as well as several new features.
In total, 10 indoor shows will be presented from July 4 to 14, inside or outside TOHU, as well as at Espace St-Denis.
The kick-off will be given in the circular room of TOHU – on July 3 – by the English collective Gandini, led by Sean Gandini, who will present Smashed 2. This group of virtuoso dancers and jugglers made their mark in 2013 with Smashed by juggling apples in a breathtaking choreography in homage to Pina Bausch.
In 2016, Gandini did it again with 4 x 4: Ephemeral Architectures, juggling and ballet performance to the music of a string quintet. And came Springin 2019, which featured American juggler Wes Peden. Smashed 2 is a sequel to their creation as a tribute to Bausch, but this time, the 9 artists of the troupe will juggle 80 oranges and 7 watermelons.
Another favorite company that will be in Montreal this summer: Circa. The Australians of this collective, which is regularly renewed over the years, have come here many times since their debut in 2008 with the incredible Wunderkammer. This year, the troupe led by Yaron Lifschitz will present Duck Pondan acrobatic rereading of the Swan Lake.
Finally, still in the circular room, the Quebec collective People Watching, made up of graduates of the National Circus School, will present the piece Play Deadwhich combines acrobatics and physical theater.
Under the TOHU marquee
Three shows will be presented outside TOHU, under the Trèfle marquee. First of all Sophie’s Suprise 29th, from the English company Three Legged Race, was spotted at the Edinburgh Festival last summer. It brings together artists from Cirque du Soleil and the show Britain’s Got Talent.
From the United States, we can also see the family show Sunset Circus, from the Parallel Exit troupe. Finally, the clown duo Foutoukours (Jean-Félix Bélanger and Rémi Jacques), who presented their play last year Globewill unveil his new creation, Brotipo.
At Espace St-Denis
The new cabaret space at the Théâtre St-Denis will be perfect for three occasions planned by the festival management, starting with Beardedfrom Cirque Alfonse, created in Montreal in 2014, and performed several times since – including last summer in a double bill with the Australian collective Briefs, which presented its drag cabaret Dirty Laundry. Well, both shows will be on the schedule again this summer.
Last show: The Librarianfrom the company Le Gros Orteil, from Quebec, which has been performing this clown creation on tour since 2019.
Finally, the Last Judgment Cabaret, this now annual circus competition, will be presented throughout the duration of the festival on the outdoor stage of the Monastery, in front of St. Jax Church. Tickets for all indoor shows are on sale this Wednesday.
Consult the full festival program