The Extraordinary History of Circus
From Fur to Sequin
The Extraordinary History of Circus is a vibrant family show. We explore our predecessors, from the edgy 90s to the 70s era of elephants and drumrolls, through the huge Barnum & Bailey shows to the birth of the modern circus in 18th-century Paris.
Where did it all begin? With the medeival jesters? Or Julius Caesar? Or even before? You can expect a wild odyssey about a world that has constantly pushed the boundaries of human ability – all for the sake of entertaining an audience.
The Extraordinary History of Circus is co-produced by Cirkus Cirkör and Uppsala Stadsteater, with its world premiere at Uppsala Stadsteater's circus tent in Gottsunda on July 26, 2025.
The Extraordinary History of Circus for Presenters
The Extraordinary History of Circus is available to book for venues and festivals in and outside of Sweden. Interested?
Running time: 75 minutes, no intermission
Recommended age: from 5 years
Tour Dates
| World premiere: July 26, 2025 | Uppsala Stadsteater (SE) | Tickets |
Cast & Crew
Filip Alexanderson
Filip is a Swedish playwright, director, writer and actor.
This is the first time Filip is working with us, he has previously written several plays based on documentary material, such as "På jakt efter bibliotekstjuven" (2019) and "Siri på spänd lina" (2021) – a play about actress Siri Hamari’s upbringing in a Finnish circus family in the 1970s. He has also led a research project blending performing arts with cutting-edge technology from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) under "Cabaret Électrique". He also wrote the play "Tre rum", in which three stages in different countries were interconnected and performed in real-time with one another.
Ensemble
Angela Wand
Marie Asplund
Simon Granit Ossiniak
Tobias Ulfvebrand
Viktor GyllenbergCREATIVE TEAM
By: Filip Alexanderson
Director: Filip Alexanderson
Circus Director: Alexander Weibel Weibel
Scenography: Concept by Filip Alexanderson, Construction and drawings by Mattias Umaerus
Costume Design: Saara Ahola
Circus Technician: Jesper Nikolajeff
Sound Design: Anton Söderberg
Lighting Design: Mikael Moritz
Mask Design: Sigrid-Nathorst-Windahl
Dramaturg: Marie Persson Hedenius
Props: Josefin Wallerström
Assistant Directors: Björn Cedervall, Katarina Bohm
Props Aging: Inga Lindén
Stage Manager/Stage Technician: Victor Lundell
Lighting Manager: Wilma Richards Jonasson
Costume Contact, Uppsala Stadsteater: Elisabeth Karlsson
Set Design Studio, Uppsala Stadsteater: Mattias Umaerus, Ylva LundbergProduCtion team, CIRKUS CIRKÖR
Producer: Katta Pålsson
Technical Producer: Henrik Enar
Head of Marketing & Communications: Hillevi Berg Niska
Tour & International Relations: Irene Ramilli
Head of Arts & Production: Marie-Andrée Robitaille
CFO: Rozerin Orucoglu
CEO & Responsible Publisher: Kajsa GiertzProduction Team, Uppsala Stadsteater
Extra runner: Per Berlin, Jon-Terje Sundberg
Communications contact: Maria Lilja
Drama Teachers: Anna Sandin, Maria Trost
Production Coordinator: Maria Freeney
Producer: Gustav Åvik Kotjerba
CEO & Responsible Publisher: Rikard LekanderTHANK YOU
With support from the Swedish Arts Council, Region Stockholm, the City of Stockholm, Botkyrka Municipality & Sweden's Writers Foundation.
Poster photo: Klara G