Knitting Peace

Follow the threads to peace in an elegant stage show that marries breathtaking artistry with beautiful live soundtracks.

  • Scientists believe that striving for something better is what keeps us alive. The worst-case scenario would be to achieve our goals without finding something new to pursue. Circus artists often strive to achieve the impossible. Is the pursuit of an impossibility the way to happiness? Is to strive for peace on earth, to strive for the impossible?

    Can the effort itself make a difference?
    Is it possible to make peace?

    In this poetic circus performance, filled with yarn, tangles, ropes and threads, the artists try to knit their way to peace. Five circus artists create a magically beautiful world of ropes and yarns. Welcome to indulge in enigmatic music, sensitive poetry and a powerful quest for meaning.

Tour Dates

May 31 – June 2Bærum Kulturhus (NO)Tickets
November, 2024Setagaya Public Theatre (JP)TBA
November, 2024Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (JP)TBA
November, 2024Okayama Art Creation Theater Hallenowa (JP)TBA
November, 2024Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Large Hall (JP)TBA

An aesthetic whole, a well-composed visual poem, executed with scenic, contemplative calm.

Expressen
  • Knitting Peace at your venue?

    Knitting Peace is soon performing its 365th show since its creation in 2013 and has been touring on three continents, 14 countries and 63 Cities. Its core theme- our struggles to attempt world peace - is still very relevant nowadays, so we can´t stop touring it.

    Minimum measurements:
    Stage area: 9 x 11 mt
    Stage width (min): 12 mt
    Stage depth (min): 12 mt 
    Ceiling height (min): 7 mt

  • At museums, parties or events

    We have created Knitting Peace-inspired and personally tailored performances at, among others, the Nobel Prize Banquet, the Swedish Institute in Paris and the Army Museum in Stockholm.

We Knit for Peace

  • What started as the circus production Knitting Peace on a world tour has evolved into an international peace movement of knitters. Since 2013, local and global "Calls to Knit" have filled theatre foyers and exhibition spaces with knitted pieces and reflections on peace. 

Reviews

Breakneck poetry in a homespun world. A charming and sympathetic work where the whole trumps the individual efforts – like stitches in a knitted piece.

Dagens Nyheter

An aesthetic whole, a well-composed image poem, executed with scenic, contemplative calm.

Expressen

Physical skill in combination with beautiful poetry creates fantastic art.

El País
  • Running time: 120 minutes

    Age restrictions: Knitting Peace was created with an adult audience in mind. Still, we know that many children have enjoyed the show. You know your child best!

Cast & Crew

  • Ensemble 2023

    Alexander Weibel Weibel/Pietro Barilli: Slack rope, Equilibrist, violin
    Joana Martinho/Aino Ihanainen: Handstand, live knitting
    Nathalie Bertholio/Aino Savolainen: Floor/dance acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
    Antonio Panaro/Mikael Kristiansen: Handstand, acrobatics
    Joana Dias/Saara Ahola and Mirja Jauhiainen: Aerial acrobatics, singing, accordion
    Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: Music, knitted livemusic

    Ariellah Winther: Rigger/Technician
    Lina Ståhl: Light technician
    Therese Larsson: Sound technician
    Fredrik “Fefe” Deijfen: Tour manager/Stage manager

    Ensemble 2021-2022

    Alexander Weibel Weibel: slack rope, equilibrist, violin
    Aino Ihanainen/Joana Martinho: handstand, live knitting
    Nathalie Bertholio/Sarah Lett: floor acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
    Mikael Kristiansen/Antonio Panaro: handstand, acrobatics
    Tiziana Prota/Joana Dias: aerial acrobatics, singing
    Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: Music, knitted livemusik

    Ariellah Winther: Rigger/Technician
    Lina Ståhl/Fredrik Ekström: Light technician
    Therese Larsson: Sound technician
    Vilhelm Montan Lindberg: Tour manager/Stage manager

    Ensemble 2020

    Joana Martinho: handstand, live knitting 
    Nathalie Bertholio/Sarah Lett: floor acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
    Mikael Kristiansen: handstand, floor acrobatics
    Tiziana Prota/Joana Dias: aeral acrobatics, singing
    Alexander Weibel Weibel: slack rope, equilibrist, violin
    Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: knitted live music

    Rigger/technician: Ariellah Winther
    Light technician: Fredrik Ekström
    Sound technician: Therese Larsson
    Tour manager/Stage manager: Vilhelm Montan Lindberg 

  • Creative Team

    Original ensemble 2013 & co-creators Aino Ihanainen, Alexander Weibel Weibel, Ilona Jäntti, Jens Engman, Matleena Laine, Niklas Blomberg, Quim Giron

    Director and concept: Tilde Björfors
    Composer & sound design: Samuel “Looptok” Andersson
    Set design: Fanny Senocq, Tilde Björfors, Stefan ”Drake” Karlström, Joel Jedström & the ensemble
    Knitted set design & knitted costumes: Aino Ihanainen
    Costume design: Anna Bonnevier
    Mask design: Helena Andersson
    Light design: Ulf Englund

    Choreographic advisor & artistic coach: Cilla Roos
    Scenographic painter & props: Tomas Helsing
    Technical coordination & constructions: Joel Jedström
    Circus construction: Ulf “Poly” Nylin
    Assistant director: Maria Wallin
    Assisting light design: Fredrik Ekström

    Live photo: Mats Bäcker
    Posterphoto: Mattias Edwall & Karolina Henke

    The performance is an all-embracing piece of art created by everyone involved - on and behind the stage.

    Production Team

    Producer: Mirja Jauhiainen
    Technical producer: Henrik Enar
    Tour & International Relations: Irene Ramilli
    Head of Arts & Production department: Lena Kjellander Stockhaus
    Executive Producer: Malin Brereton
    Graphic design: Karin Roberts
    Head of Marketing & Communication: Hillevi Berg Niska
    Photos in the program: Karolina Henke
    CEO Cirkus Cirkör: Kajsa Giertz

    Thank you

    To all the stage technicians who have tangled their way through the show. To the producers, tour planers, and tour managers who have strived to bring the show out in the world. All the artists, supporters and knitting enthusiasts that have been involved in Knitted Peace and the preproduction Knitted Peace during the years.

    The renewed performance of Knitting Peace is a collaboration with Borås Stadsteater 2022.

    With support from the Swedish Arts Council, Region Stockholm, Stockholms stad, Botkyrka Municipality.