Conversation: Circus on new paths

How does circus manifest itself today, and where is it heading?

This year’s edition of the festival presents 15 entirely new productions, where circus disciplines merge with other art forms and elements of performance, installation, or live concerts. These are genre-defying multidisciplinary works where experimentation meets tradition, reflecting our contemporary world in various ways. At times, they surprise and challenge our perceptions of what a circus performance can be. 

On the festival’s first Sunday, we invite you – whether you’re a culture enthusiast, an artist, or a curious futurist – to join a conversation with four circus artists from different generations, backgrounds, and disciplines. Culture journalist Cecilia Djurberg will moderate a discussion exploring the ideas and impulses shaping today’s and tomorrow’s circus. What boundaries are being pushed? What visions drive the art form? And does it matter if an experience is labeled as circus?

Conversation leader:

CECILIA DJURBERG is a performing arts critic and editor at Aftonbladet Kultur. Over her 25 years as a culture journalist, she has covered all genres and hybrid forms of performing arts, both in Sweden and internationally. She sits on the boards of both the Swedish Theater Critics Association and the international theater critics organization IATC-AITC, which brings together performing arts critics from all over the world.

Conversating artists:

FLORENT BERGAL is co-artistic director of the French artistic companies Le G.Bistaki and Cie Oktobre. In the late 90´s he trained at Lido circus school in Toulouse, where he later became research director for 10 years. He teaches in countries around the world, has been director for many companies, and provided writing assistance to four Circusnext award-winning projects. 2015-2018 he was associated with Pôle National Cirque de Ales. Florent defends high-level circus in a powerful and aesthetic tragi-comic theatrical universe. For the past 10 years, he has been developing in-depth research into circus writing in public spaces.

ELSA LARDIER is a French artist who embraces her Chinese pole. After graduating from the circus bachelor program at Stockholm University of the Arts in 2024, Elsa joined the Swedish artistic company Kompani Giraff for the performance A Study of Losses, as well as the French company Cie Nexus for an up-coming creation. In both her life and her circus practice, Elsa is inspired by the sensation of being suspended, the depth of feelings and emotions, the sincerity of sharing, and the precision of contact with something (such as a pole) or someone.

TOM BRAND is a Swedish-German artist based in Stockholm. His journey from woodworking to circus sparked a passion for trans-disciplinary arts. After graduating from the circus bachelor program at Stockholm University of the Arts in 2014, he co-founded Svalbard Company. Specialized in vertical rope and with a passion for movement, Tom’s immersive artistic work explores new production methods and interactive spaces. With a post-disciplinary circus approach and continuous research in improvisation his art spans performance, sculpture and installation, fostering interdisciplinary encounters worldwide.

ELISE BJERKELUND REINE is a circus performer and performance creator based in Copenhagen. She works with experimental and political circus to push boundaries and norms, aiming to evoke and provoke emotions through taking performative risks. She was educated at AFUK in Denmark and at Ecole National Supérieure du CNAC in France. After 23 years in the trapeze and as a contortionist in every conceivable position, she today uses her equilibrist circus language to explore topics often aimed at an adult audience. In addition to creating her own works and participating in performances, she is the founder and artistic director of Feral Festival in Copenhagen.

Welcome on Sunday, February 9, to Subtopia!
We celebrate the festival with a festival bar, two performances, and a conversation about the art form!

14.00 Festival bar opens
15.00 Performance: Tancarville (Hangaren)
16.30 Conversation: Circus on new paths
18.00 Performance: Manifest (Punkshangaren)