Theme: Press Play

Playing is more than entertainment. It’s a language. One without words, yet full of meaning. Those who play, connect, with themselves, with others, with the world. Circus artists know better than anyone how to play; they never stopped. They continue playing, against all expectations. With risk, balance, rhythm and feeling, with instruments and illusions — but above all, they play with our perceptions and assumptions. Because play makes the world lighter. Not less heavy, but easier to carry. In a world that grows more serious by the day, perhaps play is the boldest act of all.

To play together is to share together. Circus draws people in by going to where people are. We bring our tents to places where art is not usually expected or accessible. In this way, circus quite literally places itself at the heart of society, drawing inspiration from it and returning that to the ring in performances that move, amaze and connect. Because circus speaks a language that needs no translation. A universal body language that bridges barriers and differences like no other.

Festival Circolo 2025 is a celebration of playfulness. Daredevils climb along the frayed edges of control, clowns gently poke at our certainties, and boundary-breakers keep our imagination in peak condition. These performances touch on a deeper truth: that imagination is not a luxury, but a necessity. To laugh, watch, hesitate and feel together is an exercise in being human. It invites us to see differently, to act differently, and to shape another (perceptual) world through play. Not driven by gut reactions and fearmongering, but fuelled by wonder, laughter and, importantly, applause.

That’s why circus remains so powerful. It doesn’t play people off against each other — it plays with each other. Those who dare to play stay flexible in body and mind. It may sound like fantasy, but circus might just be able to save the world. Come be amazed, set something in motion, press play.