Circus In Denmark

From Denmark

and other Scandinavian countries

A weekly updated internet magazine

Last updated : 20. December 2024

We wish circusfriends all over the world a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. May the circus folks meet grassy lots and full houses

15 December 2024

Baldoni's Christmas circus ended their month-long tour with two sold-out performances in Allerød and Næstved respectively. In Næstved, it was sold out so long in advance that there was no need to put up circus posters at all! On the whole, the attendance figures for this year's Christmas circus have been good. Thus, René Baldoni goes on Christmas vacation as a happy man. The next time you can see Circus Baldoni is during the winter holidays in week 8, when, as is tradition, they perform in Ishøj Bycenter in Copenhagen. The tent tour starts April 5.

15 December 2024

This year's Charlie award for Tilde Björfors. The Swedish Circus Academy writes (my translation):

Today, the Swedish Circus Academy has awarded the honorary prize and award CHARLIE OF THE YEAR 2024 to TILDE BJÖRFORS for her cultural contributions to the preservation of circus art.

Tilde Björfors is a Swedish circus director, artist and researcher. Tilde was Cirkus Cirkör's artistic director 1995-2023. Cirkus Cirkör is a Swedish contemporary cicus company, and is today Scandinavia's leading performing circus company within the art form of contemporary circus. Cirkus Cirkör has toured the world with a number of circus shows.

Tilde Björfors with the small clown figure, which is the physical symbol of the award

Charlie of the year is Sweden's most prestigious circus award. It was established in 1985 by the Academy for the Preservation of Circus Art in Sweden as proof of the academy's appreciation and recognition for the special efforts or activities of the recipients to further the goals that the academy has set for itself, namely to preserve the circus as a universally recognized art form in Sweden and to spread knowledge and promote interest in this art form. The prize consists of a small figure representing the world-famous clown Charlie Rivel (1896-1983).

11 December 2024

Bubber turns 60. Niels Christian Meyer, better known as Bubber, turns 60 on Wednesday 11 December. Danish children know him as the ringmaster in good form in Circus Arena. Their parents remember him, among other things, from the children's TV programs Bubbers Bathtub and Snurre Snup's Sunday Club, as well as from documentary TV programs such as Denmark according to Bubber and Bubber and B.S.

Bubber got his circus debut in 1991, when Circus Arena in the second part of the performance presented Circus under water and Bubber came sailing into the waterfilled ring in his bathtub. Up to and including 1998, he was ringmaster in Circus Arena. After that, circus-wise, there was a break.

In 2006, Bubber was host on TV2's series Sådan Circus, which gave a number of aspiring amateurs the opportunity to test their talent in a circus ring. The same year, he hosted the entertainment series Circus! Circus! where TV2's viewers followed eight well-known Danes who were apprenticed as circus performers. The series was recorded in Circus Benneweis, but Bubber was not part of the regular performances in Benneweis.

In 2019, Bubber returned to Circus Arena. He was also supposed to be with Arena in 2020 and 2021, but the corona meant that the performances were cancelled. But since 2022 it has again been the always bubbly and charming Bubber, who presents the performance. In 2022 and 2023 together with Julie Berthelsen and in 2024 together with Malene Qvist. When Circus Arena has its national premiere at Bellahøj on 25 March 2025 with their 70th anniversary performance, it will again be Bubber and Malene who present the performance. There are undoubtedly many of us who are looking forward to seeing Bubber and Malene again in the ring!

Bubber as ringmaster. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

10 December 2024

Winter circus in Malmö, Sweden. From 6 to 8 December, Albin Ganovic presented winter circus at the Children's stage in People’s Park in Malmö. The small circular building can accommodate just over 200 spectators - up to 180 in the grandstands and 30 - 40 on chairs around the ring. Albin says that they had 8 sold-out performances, of which 3 were school performances. Albin hopes that the circus will become a sawdust-scented tradition in People’s Park in Malmö.

As there is no foyer in the Children's Stage, a foyer tent was set up outside the building where you could by candyfloss and popcorn etc. All photos smartphone photos taken by Ole Simonsen.

The performance began with the clown Cito aka Albin Ganovic welcoming to the 10th anniversary of the winter circus. See below about the 10 years!

The clown Cito alias Albin Ganovic

After that, all the performers entered the ring, where several of them showed a single trick.

4-year-old Maxym JR is showing a trick

The first act in the performance was Olena in aerial rope.

Olena

She was followed by the young Danish juggler Jonathan Zeuthen with a diabolo entrée.

Jonathan Zeuthen

The next act was the classic four stole gag. An amazing effect when the lasts stool is removed first time you see such an act. At the presentation, Cito was helped by the young Jimmy Navratil.

Then followed one of the show's top acts: the two Swedish twin sisters from Duo Vilja. The Danes experienced them in 2022 at Zirkus Nemo and in the 2023/24 season at Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building. This year they were among the nominees for the prize for the best act of the year from the Danish Circus Award.

Under the name Duo Vilja, the Swedish twin sisters Jenny and Sara presented an impressive acrobat and contortion act.

The last act before the break was Jimmy Navratil in the well-known entrée as The Inflatable Man.

The first act after the break was an impressive handstand number, performed by the just 14-year-old Maxym JR, who, together with his parents Olena and Maxim, also took part in this year's performance in the Swedish Circus Rhodin. If the Swedes had had a talent award as we have in Denmark, it should have gone to him.

Maxym JR – a rising star?

Maxym JR was followed by Jimmy Navratil in a slinky number.

Next there was a reunion with Duo Vilja, this time in their classy number in the aerial ring.

Duo Vilja in aerial ring (aerial hoop)

Now Jonathan Zeuthen came back to the ring, where he first juggled with colour-changing clubs and then with balls.

Jonathan Zeuthen with clubs

Acts with hula hoops are usually performed by female performers. But Anton Monastyrsky, whom the Danes experienced at Benneweis in 2005, showed his impressive number with rings – an act in the absolute world class. He was also part of Albin Ganovic's Christmas circus in 2014.

Next, Cito invited 3 children to the ring. They were equipped with water guns and had to shoot soap bubbles that Cito blew out. Of course, such that the water also hit the spectators!

In the last act in the performance, we met Olena and Maxym in aerial cradle, using mouth bites in several tricks. Fine act, but not on par with Duo Costache, which the Danes have seen several times in Circus Arena.

Olena and Maxim. The act was also part of this year's performance in Cirkus Rhodin.

All in all, an excellent performance with several great acts. It lasted just over 1½ hours incl. interval. I wonder if there will be a winter circus in Malmö next year as well.

Final

Albin presented the performance as a 10-year anniversary performance. How he has reached the 10 years is a little unclear. The first time he presented a Christmas circus was in 2013 in Helsingborg, i.e. 11 years ago. Albin was then only 19 years old. He also presented a Christmas circus in 2014. Then there was a break, until in 2019 he presented winter circus in Malmö and Helsingborg. He repeated that in 2022. All the performances mentioned were in a tent, so it is new that he moved indoors this year.

8 December 2024

The STORM award to Søren Østergaard of Zirkus Nemo. The Danish actor and comedian Søren Østergaard has been awarded the STORM prize, which is an honorary prize awarded at TV 2's satirical gala show 'Arte der gak', which could be seen on TV 2 Charlie on Sunday 8 December. The award is named after one of Denmark's greatest humourists, Storm P. It is an honorary award given for long and faithful service in the sign of humour. The prize was presented to Søren Østergaard by a group of "wreckers" as a tribute to Søren Østergaard's beloved figure the Wrecker.

This year, Søren Østergaard could celebrate 25 years with his Zirkus Nemo, when you include some seasons in the Glass Hall Theatre in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens.

Several media have written that Zirkus Nemo's later seasons have been loss-giving. In the latest annual report for Zirkus Nemo ApS, which covers the 2023 season, it is stated, among other things: "The company's circus activity has been characterized by the after-effects of corona restrictions and start-up challenges after closure, which has meant that the number of tickets sold has not reached the same height as before the corona shutdown. The year's result is negatively affected by this."

The result for 2023 was a deficit of DKK 869,000 against a deficit of DKK 1,591,000 in 2022. The result for 2024, when Zirkus Nemo received DKK 800,000 in cultural support, has not yet been published. Søren Østergaard has not disclosed anything about his plans for the 2025 season.

6 December 2024

Circus Merano back on the roads. In 1975, Knut Dahl established the Norwegian circus Merano, which quickly became one of the leading circuses in the Nordic region. In 1975, Knut Dahl was 22 years old and one of the youngest directors in the circus world. Circus Merano was on the road for 40 seasons. After the 2014 season, Knut Dahl decided to take a break. But in 2025, it is his plan to send Circus Merano on tour in Norway with season opening in March. See his Facebook post below.

I have met Knut Dahl a couple of times at the circus festivals in Budapest. He told me he missed his circus. Thus, the decision to go out again is not surprising. There are many who look forward to seeing Circus Merano again and wish Knut Dahl all the best.

Cirkus Merano's tent in Oslo in 2013. The colour of the tent is almost similar to the colour of Danish Circus Benneweis’ latest tent, but the design of the side walls of the two tents were not quite the same. The Merano tent probably had a diameter of 38 meters against the 36 meters of the Benneweis tent.

You can read the history of Circus Merano and see lots of pictures and video recordings at https://merano.no/

28 November 2024

Distinguished honours for Norwegian Circus Arnardo. At a ceremony on 4 December in the European Parliament, the Norwegian Cirkus Arnardo will receive the prestigious Big Top Label certificate together with the German Cirkus Charles Knie and the French Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione.

This is the fifth time the certificate is awarded. The first time was in 2018. " This certificate is the Michelin star of circus arts" the initiator of the Big Top Label program Istvan Ujhelyi said in the European Parliament at the first presentation of the certificate which recognizes European circus.

In 2018, three circuses received the certificate: Cirque Arlette Gruss from France, Cirus Krone from Germany and Blackpool Tower Circus from England. In 2019, the certificate were given to the Finnish Circus Finlandia, the Hungarian Magyar Nemzeti Circus (Hungarian National Circus) and the Swiss Circus Knie. There were no awards in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022, the certificates went to Circus Balkanski (Bulgaria), Circus Brazil Jack (Sweden) and Cirkus Roncalli (Germany). In 2023, the recipients were Circo Raluy Legacy (Spain), Richter Flórián Circus (Hungary) and Zippos Circus (England).

You can read more about the certificate at https://bigtoplabel.com/

27 November 2024

The Circus Museums exhibition about magicians closes down. One of the oldest exhibitions at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen is their exhibition about magicians. The last chance to see the fine old exhibition is Monday 8 December. The exhibition will then be taken down to make room for a new exhibition, which will be ready for the winter holidays in week 7 next year.

In the exhibition, which is taken down, you can see, among other things, a film with the Danish magician Jørgen Samson. Jørgen Samson became particularly well-known for his impressive flower act, where he hid 42 kilos of objects under his clothes, consisting of flowers and bouquets, folded tables, scarves and much more. Within half an hour the entire stage was filled with flowers! He always ended the act with going in splits. Samson was born in 1926 in Copenhagen. As a 13-year-old, he received his first magic book as a Christmas present and later he was apprenticed to Professor Tribini at the amusement park Bakken, where he performed as a clown. In 1952, he debuted with his flower act, which he presented all over the world until his death in 2002. Click here to see a video of his act which always was the last in a performance, as it took time to clean up! Photo from the Circus Museum in Hvidovre's collection.

26 November 2024

No Christmas circus in Aarhus. In December last year, you could visit Enoch's Circus Show in a tent on Bispetorvet in Aarhus. The performers were partly artists, partly youngsters from Flying Superkids Junior. The idea was that there should be a Christmas circus again this year. But Jimmy Enoch says that the team behind the show has chosen to skip a year. Due to an extremely busy summer and autumn, they all need a bit of rest.

Enoch Show Production has at the same time expanded the business with 6 new tents for rent plus purchased mobile tribunes with seats for more than 5,000.

Unfortunately, the people of Aarhus cannot enjoy this view this year

22 November 2024

Baldoni's Christmas Circus 2024. Jacob Boas Leitisstein writes (my translation):

Another great show in Baldoni’s Christmas universe

The audience's support did not fail at this year's premiere weekend at Baldoni's Christmas Circus, which could start this year's Christmas season with sold-out performances in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre. And the performance deserves even more sold-out performances before the tour ends on December 15 in Næstved.

This year's performance is a good combination of the cozy Christmas atmosphere, as we know it from Baldoni's Christmas Circus, and a completely new team of artists in the Christmas ring. In addition, the scenography has been upgraded this year with a marquee in the Baldoni colours, which frames the ring and creates the feeling of sitting under a circus tent, even though the Christmas performances, as always, take place in sport halls and other indoor venues.

A sail above the ring gives the illusion of the circus tent. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The recurring characters are Nis, Nisseline and Santa Claus, who together guide the audience through the performance. This year, Mickey and Matilde take on the parts of Nis and Nisseline, while you meet René Baldoni as Father Christmas and Julius the elf together with Anton the Christmas pig. Nis and Nisseline create the Christmas atmosphere with their many different entrées, which offer everything from magic and dance to Christmas carols and Santa pranks.

The summer season's ringmaster Mickey Juel Prüssing has, together with Matilde, the parts as Nis and Nisseline.

The circus director René Baldoni has both the part as Santa Claus and pars as the elf with the talking Christmas pig

The first act in the performance is Marine Durand, who shows a hula hoop number, in which the many hula hoops are juggled, balanced and danced.

Marina Durand and her rings.

From Italy comes Steven Carroli, who - together with his partner Emi Velkova - occupies the ring with a bicycle number. Steven rides a unicycle – both high and low – and is jumping up and down stairs several times. On top of the bike, Steven juggles both witt clubs and balances with small plates, which he throws up on his head with his feet.

Steven Carolli and Emi Velkova

Later in the performance, you meet Emi Velkova again - this time with a graceful number in a "lollipop". In the "lollipop" - a rotating ring - Emi twists around and shows a series of great, acrobatic tricks.

Emi calls her prop a lollipop

The performance also offers fast-paced juggling with Alfio Macaggi from Spain. Alfio has momentum from the start, and with a sure hand Alfio shows several different disciplines within the juggling profession. Initially, this applies to white footballs, which are replaced by "bouncing balls", which are both thrown into the air and onto the floor. The number ends with a couple of rounds in the ring, where Alfio simultaneously juggles hats that are grabbed with both his hands and his head.

Alfio Macaggi

A couple that you meet several times in the show are Bambolina and Dodo. Dodo and the human ballerina doll Bambolina fill the ring with both comedy, poetry and strong, acrobatic features. In the number before the finale, their act slips into a partner acrobatics, which puts a nice end to another great performance in Baldoni's Christmas universe.

Bambolina and Dodo in their puppet act and in the closing act with partner acrobatics. The couple's real names are Celia Mendiza and Ralph Taylor. It has been 15 years since we last saw them in Denmark, namely at Benneweis in 2009.

Final. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos from the performance

21 November 2024

More artists for Circus Arena 2025. On 2 November we wrote about some of the artists you can meet in 2025 in Circus Arena:

Steven Ferreri – tight wire

Michael Ferreri - juggler

Christofer Eötvös - magic.

Circus Arena's house clown Jimmy Folco

William Tournoud – rola bola in trapeze.

David Hammarberg - aerial act

Duo Costache.

Cirkus Arena has now published a few more names:

Los Ortiz performs in the death wheel and on the high wire. They were also at Arena in 2023, where the Danish Circus Award gave them the prize for the year's best act for their high wire act.

Gabriel Dell'acqua performs handstand. He has not previously performed in Denmark. He is born in Cosenza, Italy. In 2022 he won gold at the European Youth Circus festival in Wiesbaden. One of the most prestigious festivals for young artists.

There is a national premiere at Bellahøj on 25 March. That might cause a problem for the magician Christoffer Eötvös. According to the program for the large German Circus Krone, he will be in their winter performance in the circus building in Munich until April 6. And not even an illusionist can be in two places at the same time.

15 November 2024

Baldoni's Christmas Circus opens the season on Saturday 16 November in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen. In next week's update, you can read a review with photos from the performance.

Circus Baldoni has presented some of the performers on Facebook.

Mickey & Matilde are musically trained actors who have the parts as the pixies Nis & Nisseline. The Baldoni audience knows Mickey Juel Prüssing as ringmaster from the summer tent season.

From Bulgaria comes Emi Velkova. Emi usually performs as an aerialist high up under the circus dome. But since it is not possible to present an aerial act at Baldoni's indoor locations for the Christmas circus, Emi has something completely different to show: It is called a "lollipop" where Emi performs acrobatics that will impress both young and old.

From England comes Bambolina & Dodo. They present the story about the doll maker who falls in love with his doll. The couple was with Circus Benneweis in 2009. The story is also known from the ballet Coppelia. The duo is called Circle of Two and is an acrobatic theatre company with an aim to revitalise old popular theatre traditions for contemporary family audiences. They use circus, puppetry, pantomime and vaudeville formats to tell simple and engaging stories as the story about Bambolina & Dodo.

Celia Mendiza and Ralph Taylor graduated in 2001 by the Central School of Speech and Drama and The Circus Space in London with an honour’s degree in Theatre Practice and Contemporary Circus.

Bambolina and Dodo in Circus Benneweis 2009

From Italy comes Steven Carroli. He skips, jumps up stairs and juggles on his unicycle, all the while being assisted by his beautiful partner Emi.

From France comes Marine Durand, who shows an act with lots of hula hoops.

From Spain comes Alfio Macaggi. Alfio is a juggler and is bouncing his balls to the floor. Alfio Macaggi and Marine Durand have both spent the 2024 summer season with the Norwegian Cirkus Arnardo.

8 November 2024

Winter Circus in Malmö, Sweden. As mentioned on this website on 28 August, Albin Ganovic organizes a winter circus at “Barnens scen” (Children’s Stage) in Malmö's folk park. It is the 5th time Albin organizes a Christmas or winter circus. The first time was in 2013 in Helsingborg, Sweden.

This year there are performances on the days 6 to 8 December. This year only in Malmö and, as mentioned, indoors at Barnens scen. There are 5 performances, plus two school performances.

On August 28, we could tell that among the performers, in addition to the clown Cito (aka Albin Ganovic), was the young Danish juggler Jonathan Zeuten and the "Lord of the Rings" Anton Monastyrsky. The latter was also with Albin's Christmas circus in 2014. The Danes saw him at Circus Benneweis in 2005.

Now Albin Ganovic has published the names of a few more artists:

Under the name Duo Vilja, the Swedish twin sisters Jenny and Sara show an impressive act. Only 13 years old, they were bitten by the circus bug and joined a children's and youth circus, where they performed as clowns with a small pig. Later they went to circus school. First in Sweden, then in Montreal. Since then, they have taken the whole world by storm and performed on a large number of leading variety shows and circuses. In 2022 they toured Denmark with Zirkus Nemo. In season 2023/24 they were with Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building. Their act was among the three acts nominated by the Danish Circus Award for the prize for the year's best act.

19-year-old Jimmy Navratil comes from a well-known circus family. He can both juggle and balance.

The acrobat duo Olena and Maksim were part of this year's performance in the small Swedish Circus Rhodin. With them they have their son, the 13-year-old Maksym JR, whose excellent handstand act was also presented in Circus Rhodin's 2024 performance.

The performances in the Swedish Winter Circus are accompanied by a 4-piece orchestra with Linus Eckerholm as bandmaster.

7 November 2024

Duo Kvas in Wonderland. ★★★★☆☆

The performance which that ELYSIUM Circus Theater from Kyiv in Ukraine in November has on tour in Denmark, Sweden and Norway is called "Alice in Wonderland". It is inspired by Lewis Carroll's children's book about the curious girl Alice, who one day discovers a new magical adventure world.

The show's best artists are clearly the two muscular men from Duo Kvas. Hence my title. Danes remember them from this year's performance in Zirkus Nemo, where, by the way, they were also in 2019, where they were among the nominees for the award for that year's best act.

Duo Kvass. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are smartphone photos, taken during a performance at the Royal Stage on November 5.

ELYSIUM Circus Theatre's performance makes use of 3D background scenes and LED screens that make the background constantly changing. Impressive! And for a touring performance, perhaps a little simpler than if you had to bring lots of props and sets.

The performance, which consists of a mixture of dance and acrobatics, does not have a coherent story. Several of the artist acts are relatively short. The audience experiences illusion acts such as the floating girl and sawing a woman in half. A juggler shows Sanddorn balance with golf clubs and ends with mouth juggling with ping pong balls. Finally, a ball, which ends up in a small mug on a pole, he balances on his forehead!

There was a fine act number in Cyr Wheel and a hula hoop act which was a little out of the ordinary. An artist on a slack wire was quite good, but should practice a bit more before he tries to throw a bucket to his head with his foot while sitting on a monocycle on the wire. A handstand acrobat ended with Encho's famous trick of pushing the bricks aside. The performance also featured several short aerial acts.

Artist in Cyr Wheel

Hula hoop of a special class. Press photo from the organizer of the Scandinavian tour Kultur for Folket.

Artist in handstand. Press photo from Kultur for Folket

As often seen in contemporary circus performances, the performers were not introduced by name. But Nemo guests could clearly recognize the two guys from Duo Kvas, who well deserved was the performers who received the biggest applause.

The performance had its Scandinavian premiere in Linköping in Sweden on 1 November. On 3 and 4 November it was shown in K.B. Hallen in Copenhagen and on 5 November in Royal Stage in Hillerød. From there it continues to 7 Swedish and 4 Norwegian cities. It might later tour other countries in Europe.

At Royal Stage, there were quite a few children in the audience. However, like many contemporary circus performances, the performance is more suitable for adults than for children. There were disappointed families with children who left the show before it was over.

1 November 2024

Circus Arena 2025. Circus Arena writes (my translation):

In 2025, Circus Arena celebrates its 70th anniversary with Bubber and Malene Qvist at the head of a new spectacular show for the whole family. In the 70th anniversary show, you will meet a unique combination of artists performing for the first time in Circus Arena, as well as the super league of the very best artists who have enchanted our audience over the years

Look forward to, among other things to experience impressive illusions, completely amazing tight wire dancing, the world's best juggler with a total of 33 Guinness World Records, elegant horses, enchanting aerial acrobatics and a string of clowns, wonderful songs and surprises. There will be plenty to talk about afterwards!

Until now, Circus Arena has published the following artist names:

Steven Ferreri – tight wire

Michael Ferreri - juggler

The two brothers were also with Arena in 2023.

The magician Christofer Eötvö. Christofer performed in Circusland in the 2024 summer season.

Circus Arena's house clown Jimmy Folco

William Tournoud – rola bola in trapeze. He comes from France and has not previously performed in Denmark.

David Hammarberg - aerial act. He was also with Arena in 2023 and 2024.

Duo Costache. It is Leonardo and Vita Costache's 6th season at Circus Arena.

More artist names will be announced soon.

There is season opening on “Bellahoj” in Copenhagen on 25 March. Circus Arena is the largest circus in the Nordic countries.

1 November 2024

Circus Baldoni 2025. Cirkus Baldoni tell that for the 2025 season they have re-engaged the clown José Michel. They have also engaged one of José and Giulia Michel's daughters, Quincy Azzario, who in 2012, together with her sister Katie, won a silver clown in Monte Carlo for their act Azzario Sisters. The duo stopped after the 2015 season when Katie married the big cat trainer Alexander Lacey. Quincy has since performed solo. Among the other performers in Circus Baldoni are Diana Boiachin, who was also with Baldoni in 2023 and 2024, as well as jugglers and acrobats. Just as in 2024, the performance is presented by Mickey Juel Prüssing.

There is season opening on 5 April.

23 October 2024

Halloween show in Kolding Shopping Mall. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance on 19 October at 13 and 15 and writes (my translation):

The centre square was transformed. A large labyrinth filled most of the area, and inside the labyrinth there were cobwebs, spiders, skeletons, witches, monsters - and indeed two scary clowns.

But it was on the stage outside the labyrinth that the circus acts was shown. Were we in a marketplace? Were we at the funfair? Were we at a freak show? Probably a little bit of everything. Lasse Nørager, Joakim and Julia led us together with other artists into a universe where the unbelievable happens right before our noses and the impossible suddenly becomes reality. The lively and vibrant universe of the clown and the artist. – an extension of or a response to the everyday life we live in. Fascinating, festive, colourful and beautiful. And at Halloween time also a bit disturbing.

Lasse Nørager - in his impressive, white plus fours and with a uniform that gives associations in all possible directions - was announcer/compere. With relevant presentations and language brands, he gave extra life to the performance. Julia was presented as "the student who avoided Egtved girls' school." It was "horribly funny", and the artist with whiplash could "whip up a mood", and another had to go "back to the baker".

Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager in uniform. All photos are taken by Anny Skjøth Schaldemose

There were no seats, but a large floor space where children could sit: "When you sit, you won't fall if you faint." And so on.

But the show? There was a good selection of the many sketches, performances, skills and quirks that the Nørager family can deliver. And the two performances were not the same. There was plenty to take off - and you can clearly see that both Julia and Joakim are having fun together with the audience. You can feel that they have the artist's infectious pride and joy in amusing, surprising and entertaining the audience.

And entertained, we were! Julia showed hair hanging high in the air. We got the old number with the three buckets where a head is stuck up where there is room for it. Joakim blew a toilet roll into space with a hairdryer - then blew up a giant balloon. Along the way, he lost his glasses and had to climb into the balloon to find them - and after many attemps inside the balloon, he stuck his head out - with the glasses on his nose. And we got the unforgettable sketch with the ton-heavy suitcase, which is light as a feather when the right person, a boy from the audience, is allowed to lift it.

The siblings Julia and Joakim Myllykangas. Julie is hanging by her hair and her little brother Joakim has crawled into a balloon.

There were also other artists. Tilda and Viktor were parterre acrobats, Heidi Latva swung in a trapeze high up in the air - very high up, and she didn't use a longe. Because Halloween involves horror.

Heidi Latva

And then there was Juma from Tanzania. He was with circus Torment when they visited Denmark last year, and he will be them with when Torment visits Denmark again in 2025. He is a contortionist. And he could tie himself into knots, take his legs on his neck and twist and bend his arms and legs and the whole body in all possible and especially impossible positions. So much so that it almost hurt to look at it. Again, a real Halloween thrill.

Juma

In short: entertainment at a high level, lots of thrills and laughs, jokes and artistry in a classy mix.

Circus News reporter Jorgen Lorenzen together with Lasse Nørager

20 October 2024

Circus Trapez. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Houlkærhallen in Viborg on 17 October at 17 and writes:

The performance started when all the artists entering the ring. A hat passed from person to person and whoever wore the hat gave a short presentation of their act.

Isabella Enoch welcomed and the first act was with animals. 6 ferrets were presented by Svetlana Roslyakova. The little creatures could do everything you usually see in shows with poodles. Surprising, different, astonishing. And good to see for those who like to see animal acts in the circus.

Svetlana Krachinova. Her daughter Anelya Roslyakova presented a similar act in Circus Benneweis in 2014. All photos are taken by Anny Skjøth Schaldemose

The Danish clown Zap, aka Asger Frøkov, was the common thread throughout the performance. He is not well-known in Denmark. It's a shame, because he's a clown of a large format. Experienced, with charm and fine audience contact and perfect timing and ability to use the impulses from the audience. A middle ground between a Storm P. figure and - for the children - a nice old grandfather who couldn't figure anything out, and therefore needed their help and tolerance. And we older people clearly saw that his physiognomy reminded us of Long in the Danish comedian couple Long and Short. His first entrée was the music director gag, where the audience had to clap after his direction. The music sheet was gone and he looked for it in vain. It was in his back pocket, and the children shouted to help him. It was clarified when a child's voice broke through: it's in the ass!

Nandor Varadi juggled plates on sticks.

Zap took a long time to put on his jacket. It was wrongly fitted, and it was stuck, before the children, with shouts and suggestions, finally helped him into the clothes.

Then came a dog acts. Two poodles, presented by Stine Marie. Followed by a pony, which was presented by Nikolai.

The brothers Andrii and Mykola Krachinova balanced on a rola-bola board. And on it they performed difficult acrobatic figures and exercises - on a rocking ground. Handstand, headstand, and all the figures that two acrobats can make in perfect harmony. Graceful, focused on strength, elegant – and difficult. The two brothers had no make-up and they worked in "civilian" clothes. Inspiration from contemporary circus?

After the interval Svetlana entered the ring with came with 6 cats – domestic cats. When you keep a cat yourself, you know that the beasts has their own will and do nothing on command. But not here! They could crawl, jump, balance, and when they were done, they jumped into their transport boxes. No need to run away!

Duo Twins - the Krachinova brothers – presented a strong act. Parterre acrobatics, lifting acrobatics and handstand. A mixture – with moments of strength and stillness, but also moments of movement and speed. It requires body control, strength and an expertise that far surpases even the most skilled gymnast. Artistry at a high level.

Nandor Varadi was a classic juggler. Stylish, safe, fast-paced, but with grace and with moments of excitement and charging for the next trick. He juggled 7 balls and 9 rings - so he was at the heavy end of the juggling profession.

Zap was the leading figure in the performance. He has several clown entrées. Routine, with charm and very good contact with the children. He had many gags, quirks, misunderstandings and mistakes. The children helped him on the right path. His finale was playing the saxophone. But as a true clown, you have no idea what such an instrument is to be used for. The rest of us know better, but the clown is like a child who has to gain the experiences that the adults already have. Is it a tuba, is it a bagpipe, a guitar or a telephone? He found out, the horn finally sounded, and he could ascertain that "the ferry will be in port in a few minutes."

And then the audience also came ashore and could go home after a good performance. Good flow, many animal acts, pace, versatility – and an excellent clown. The way we old circus fans would a performance to be.

17 October 2024

Circus Dystopia, Marselisborghallen in Aarhus with entrance from the street or from Tivoli Friheden. Jørgen Lorenzen visited Cirkus Dystopia 13 October and writes (my translation):

The sports hall Marselisborghallen was as if transformed to something different. The visitors moved about in the twilight. A stage was set up in the middle. Or was it a scaffold? There were scary sounds, shouts and screams. There was scary nightmare music. And there were creatures roaming around – ghosts, apparitions and madmen. Suddenly they were close to you - with prayers, begging, enticing calls or just plain crazy talk, sometimes followed up by physical touches.

All photos are taken by Anny Skjøth Schaldemose

You could visit two labyrinths, which were populated by creepy and supernatural beings, each of which had to illusion a character. There were crippled, tormented, demented madmen - and there were nightmarish creatures from another planet and from the underworld. Or was it a torture chamber?

There was flickering lights, creepy masks, eyes where contact lenses sat with creepy pupils. And there was deranged talk, as if you were staying in a medieval madhouse or a workhouse in Denmark many years ago. Creepy, and perhaps even creepier, that you occasionally made fun of the poor creatures. But OK! You knew it was theatre.

The actors were well masked and imaginatively costumed - lively and at times true to life in their abnormality and madness. There was free rein for the imagination. The actors came from Dystopia Entertainment in Vejle. The many actors clearly got an outlet for their inner madness and wildness. And enjoyed it!

Once an hour there was a performance on the stage in the middle of the hall. It began with a sketch in which the lovable Pierrot was transformed. His blood-red mouth took on a literal meaning, and his pure, white face was covered in blood, and black threads hung from his mouth. He wanted to prevent Harlequin and Columbine from getting together, and while Harlequin slumped down on the stage, Pierrot dragged Columbine off.

Murder in the circus - Pierrot has killed Harlequin

And then there were artists engaged by Dark Thrill Entertainment. There was Bozo the Crazy Juggler. Behind the creepy, diabolical masking, one could recognise David Sosman. There was an excellent whip and lasso number – very suitable for the whole set-up. It was presented by Duo Laner, who later came back in with a nice knife-throwing act. There were blindfolded dagger throws against a rotating disc/partner. What was new was that the two actors simultaneously threw knives at each other - or of course: past each other, before the knives reached their target on the disc.

Click here to see a 15 sec. video clip from Duo Laner's act

But the very best - or very creepiest - was Denis the Illusionist. It has been many years since we in Denmark have seen a real fakir. Now he was here! And the surroundings were absolutely perfect for a fakir. He stuck needles through the skin on the arms, and needles from the mouth out through the cheek. And he went very close to the audience, who were allowed to pull out the needles. And the final trick: with a drill, he turned a screw up the nose, where it disappeared somewhere, before pulling it out again. A strong number. Horror and horror at the same time.

It seems that Halloween has overtaken the carnival and Mardi Gras traditions in popularity. Why has this happened? Halloween has something dark about it. Death, doom and extremes, which you try to live through or illustrate in the context of Halloween. Why is it popular right now? Mardi Gras and carnival are light and cheerful – role-playing games where you can dream up another role. As in the festival plays in the Middle Ages, where the servant was allowed to be the master for a day and the landowner swapped places with his peasants. But Halloween revolves around death and destruction, the dark and sad side of life. Why is it popular right now? A whole feature article could probably be written about that.

***

Dystopia Entertainment is based in Vejle and consists of a group of horror enthusiasts and creative souls who love to create experiences for others. Their motto is TO HORRIFY AND ASTONISH. You can read more at www.dystopia.dk

11 October 2024

New exhibition at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum has special exhibitions. Their newest special exhibition is about the Thierry family's small Jutland Circus Krone, which started as a circus with short performances at fairs, but later became a "real" circus.

The exhibition opened on 11 October. The exhibition can be seen until the summer of 2025. Below, a few photos from the new exhibition and from the exhibition opening.

Circus Krone was established by Regner Thierry, but it was his daughter Irene Thierry who turned it into a traditional circus. And by the way, for a number of years it also functioned as a form of artist school for young talents. For a period in the 1990s, Circus Krone also ran a artist school during the winter period in their winter quarters in Haarup old school.

Today, Cirkus Krone is run by the 3rd generation: Irene's eldest son Frank Thierry.

Irene Thierry looks at the exhibition. She has used the blue dress herself in her entrée with pigeons. Hat, poster and magic props have been used by Irene's mother Ebba Thierry

The front dress was sewn by Irene Thierry herself as a 7-year-old for a trapeze number. She used the dress behind in the finale of a Krone performance. Behind a suit jacket used by Regner Thierry. Back costume for a Don Cossack. Regner Thierry's Don Cossacks were however Danes!

Irene's grandchildren had come along to see the exhibition about the family's circus

In the spring 2025 there will be a biography published of Irene Thierry, here seen together with the author Joan Dansberg

Museum curator director Mikkel Knudsen welcomes

In addition to the new exhibition, the museum's playroom has been given a facelift

8 October 2024

At the performances in Weihnactscircus Düsseldorf from 11 December to 5 January, you can see the Garcia family's space rocket. But with new crew, as the brothers Antonio and Conor Garcia have replaced their parents Pablo and Vickki Garcia. The Danish audience saw the rocket with Pablo and Vickki in Circus Arena in 2024. Antonio and Conor were also at Arena with a handstand number that brought them the year's talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. Among the other performers in the German Christmas circus is Kaya Janecek, who received the Danish talent prize in 2023. Before the job in Düsseldorf, Kaya will participate in the prestigious Youth Circus Festival in Wiesbaden. It takes place from 30 October to 2 November.

4 October 2024

CIRCUS DYSTOPIA (horror circus)

From 12 - 20 October, you can see international circus performers from Dark Thrills Entertainment in the ring in Circus Dystopia at Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus. There is a show every hour from 13.30 to 20.30. They write that they present fantastic and nerve-wracking shows that have never been seen before in Denmark. Among other things, you can look forward to hair-raising knife throwing and the mysterious 'Freak', who drills screws in his nose and pulls needles through his cheeks!

They describe the performances as follows (my translation)

This year Cirkus Dystopia takes you on a nerve-wracking journey into a twisted mind where the borders lines between love and madness are blurred. In the center stands Pierrot, as you have never seen him before. He was once a funny fool, but an unattainable love has driven him mad. Pierrot is in love with Columbine, but her heart belongs to Harlequin. This burning jealousy has driven Pierrot to extreme actions, and in his insane rage he has tortured Harlequin turning him into a pitiful doll that is now part of Pierrot's sick amusement. Pierrot's heart is now home to a sick obsession that has turned him into a dangerous shadow of his former self.

In this nightmarish universe, Pierrot rules, whose distorted love has created small, creepy clown children who, with their grim smiles, spread chaos and death. This is his perfect nightmare - an endless cycle of horror and desperation, where love has turned to evil and chaos has become his home. This is how it can go…

3 October 2024

Circus of Torment back in Denmark in the spring 2025.

CIRCUS OF TORMENT presented horror circus performances in Vejle and Aalborg in February 2023. In autumn 2023, they were back with performances in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Odense.

Circus of Torment is a live horror show filled with nerve-wracking performances, comedy and immersive theatrical elements throughout the show.

The juggler on the Circus of Torment flyer is David Sosman, son of Isabella Enoch Sosman and the late Eddy Sosman

About the performance in Aalborg 2023, the digital media migogaalborg wrote "Perfect combination of horror, laughter, horror and screams" and gave the performance 5 stars.

On this page, Jørgen Lorenzen wrote, among other things: "There was so much that at the end you wanted to see it all again. And as in a good theater performance, the performance posed questions to the audience: what was it that we saw here? How should we interpret it? There was not just, as in a good circus performance, a bombardment of the senses, a joyful demonstration of the many facets of circus art and its beauty".

In the spring of 2025, CIRCUS OF TORMENT will return to Denmark with performances in Copenhagen, Odense, Vejle and Aarhus. They write (my translation):

Venture into the ominous fog where a troupe of doomed circus performers await. Be a part of the story – laugh, tremble and scream as ghosts and demons are brought to life from their dark past. Experience their amazing and breathtaking circus acts in this nerve-wracking and thrilling live horror show!

Prepare to travel back to a dark time of mysterious fortune tellers, terrifying freak shows, psychopathic performers and murderous clowns. This show is not for the faint of heart and is a guaranteed hair-raising experience! Take your place around a specially designed stage that provides a unique 360 degree view of the terrifying stunts. Feel the horror brought to life around you as the creatures of this cursed world enter the stage.

Be part of the show and witness international artists from all over Europe perform incredible and dangerous circus acts in this impressive horror show. Witness the pain and experience the agony!

Circus of Torment invites you in for a show you will never forget…

There are performances at Trianglen in Copenhagen from 14 to 23 March, in Ansgar park in Odense from 28 March to 6 April, in Vejle from 11 to 20 April and at Harbour Square in Aarhus from 25 April to 4 May.

You can read more at https://www.circusoftorment.com/

In Circus of Torment's 2-pole tent, there is a small circular stage surrounded by 2 rows of chairs and a grandstand with 6 rows of benches. Photo from Odense 31 October 2023

2 October 2024

Circus Arena in Greenland. Cirkus Arena is currently on tour in Greenland, where they visit 6 cities. In Greenland, it is their 40th anniversary tour. Apart from the corona years, Benny Berdino and his team have for many years visited Greenland every autumn with performances in indoor arenas. Due to the expensive freight, they bring only the most necessary equipment, and normally no animals are included in the performances. The artists are not quite the same as during Arena's Danish tour. In Greenland, it is a big event when the circus comes to town. Just as it was in the old days, when a circus came to the cities in Jutland and on Funen and Zealand, and the spectators' seats in the Greenlandic arenas are well filled.

Cirkus Arena writes about this year's show (my translation):

Circus Arena celebrates 40 years with a magnificent anniversary tour in Greenland, where the audience can look forward to a magical experience for the whole family. It will be a special celebration, presented by the two popular hosts Bubber and Julie Berthelsen, who will guide the audience through a show full of spectacular acts and fantastic artists.

The tour offers a string of world-famous artists that will fascinate both children and adults. Experience the enchanting and seductive Skating New Vision with their breakneck roller-skating act that defy gravity. The talented Jessica Jester brings humour and elegance to the air with her aerial acrobatics, while Kelly Folco seduces the audience with impressive juggling. Michael the clown is a hit for young and old.

In addition to the established stars, the tour will also present the young and talented artist couple Julia and Joachim. Their fresh and modern acts show that circus art is alive and well, and they will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Bubber, who is known from Danish TV, and the singer Julie Berthelsen lead the audience through the performance in both Greenlandic and Danish.

Circus Arena visits:

Ilulissat 30 September at 18.30

Aasiaat 1 October at 18.30

Sisimiut 2 October at 18.30

Maniitsoq 3 October at 18.30

Nuuk 6 October at 14 & 17

Julia and Joachim Myllykangas are children of the clown Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager and Mrs. Tiina. By the way, Bonbon is also part of the performances in Greenland.