For the first time, the Czech Republic will participate in the international project Circus Nights, which will take place from November 15 to 17. For example, in France, this movement discipline has been celebrated for the sixth time in November under the name La Nuit du Cirque, and in Germany for the fourth time as Zeit für Zirkus. And you can be a part of it!
The program, coordinated in the Czech Republic by the New Circus Association, will feature 26 events organized by new circus festivals, troupes, and theatres across 14 venues in 10 cities throughout the country. In Ostrava, we will celebrate new circus with MOVE Ostrava on Saturday, November 16, at FUTUREU with the performative walk Carpe(t) Diem Reloaded. Additionally, BoCirk will join the event with the performance Erlend – The Foreigner on Friday, November 15, at the Chamber Stage Aréna.
And we’re not alone – we are joining other cities such as Brno with Cie Pieds Perchés, Hradec Králové with OnAir Company, Plzeň with Cirkulárium, and Prague, where venues like KD Mlejn, Cirqueon, Jatka78, and Divadlo BRAVO with Losers Cirque Company will also participate in the program.
"Our goal is to highlight new circus as a genre, its diversity, and the experiences it offers. We want to show both locally and internationally how many talented artists are creating across the Czech Republic. We are delighted that new circus will truly take over the Czech Republic for three days and that we are successfully joining many countries that already celebrate this genre as part of La Nuit du Cirque." This is how Jiří Turek, director of the Letní Letná festival and chairman of the New Circus Association, describes the aims of Circus Nights.
Celebrate Circus Nights with a performative walk through the former coal mill
Especially for Circus Nights, we have prepared a new, unique interpretation of the original duet Carpe(t) Diem Reloaded. This time, it is set in the unique environment of the cultural heritage site FUTUREUM, where the original concept has been transformed into a performative walk, enriched with aerial acrobatics.
We invite you on a journey into the depths of a former industrial complex, where the original performance subtly intertwines with the atmosphere, space, and echoes of the city's history. Join us on Saturday, November 16, at 16:00 and 19:00.
Carpe(t) Diem, or how to enjoy life when several carpets are constantly competing for your attention? You might find the answer in the performance by Jana Ryšlavá, Jindřich Panský, Alžběta Tichá, and Viktorie Szalóczi. Come discover the mysterious corners of Ostrava, where history will breathe upon you, as well as the breathtaking contemporary movement art of the four performers, directed by the experienced director Ondřej Holba.
In addition to this performance, a special episode featuring a recording of Veronika Štefanová's lecture on the topic of new circus will be published as part of the MOVECast podcast. The lecture took place during this year's MOVE Fest Ostrava 2024, and the Circus Nights are the perfect opportunity to share it with a wider audience. It will provide you with a brief yet comprehensive overview of the history and contemporary forms of circus. Like contemporary dance, new circus has many forms that constantly change based on audience preferences and acrobats' abilities. Through the blending of genres and crossing boundaries, it can lead you to physical grotesque, absurd theater, performance, movement installation, or movement analysis. The MOVECast, along with supplementary educational materials, will be available on Friday, November 15, on Spotify and at www.moveostrava.cz/podcast 🎧.
Circus Nights with BoCirk
Already on Friday, November 15th, as part of Circus Nights, you can also visit the solo performance Erlend – Foreigner by acrobat Jindřich Kopidol, directed by Jan Jirák, with live music. The show features unusual acrobatic elements with original balancing objects made of pure wood, metal, and hardened plastic. It will take place at 18:30 at the Komorní Scéna Aréna.
The Circus Nights project is part of La Nuit du Cirque, an international event organized by Territoires de Cirque with the support of the French Ministry of Culture. For more information, the detailed program, and a map of the participating cities and events, visit: https://lanuitducirque.com. The program, map, and further details about the Czech participating events can be found here: https://czechcircus.cz/cirkusove-noci.
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