The Extraordinary History of Circus

From Fur to Sequin

  • Join us on a journey through time – from the punk beginnings of contemporary circus in the 1990s to the Stone Age. The Extraordinary History of Circus is a fast-paced, humorous family show that explores the timeless driving force of circus: to captivate the audience and to always be first with the unexpected, the daring, and the impossible – the things that make us gasp in wonder.

    Theatre and circus intertwine through a whirlwind of stories from different eras. Five actors and circus artists hurl themselves through a history brimming with courage, curiosity, and the urge to do what no one has done. Yet!

    The Extraordinary History of Circus is a co-production between Cirkus Cirkör and Uppsala Stadsteater.

  • 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?

    Contact us
    For Presenters

    Running time: 75 minutes, no intermission
    Recommended age: from 5 years

    • Joining us on our journey through time are five circus artists who flawlessly master everything that belongs to the circus art.

      Uppsala Nya tidning

Tour Dates

  • With maximum energy, the five artists juggle coffee cups, try out skateboard tricks and perform parkour stunts.

    Svenska Dagbladet

    At its best, in aerial acrobat and super-flexible contortionist, Marie Asplund's poetic and technically delightful solo act.

    Aftonbladet

    Entertainment of the highest order, bringing us joy and happiness.

    Sidstycken

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.

    More about Filip

  • Alexander Weibel Weibel

    Alexander is a Spanish-born circus artist, director and musician. He was educated at the circus school in Madrid, the National Circus School of Moscow and the School of Dance and Circus (DOCH) in Stockholm. He has been granted several awards at major circus festivals worldwide.

    Alexander has worked with Cirkus Cirkör for many years, most visibly as an equilibrist, acrobat and musician in performances such as Knitting Peace, Borders and Satyagraha.

    More about Alexander

  • (…) a reminder of an art form that remains in constant motion.

    Svenska Dagbladet

  • Ensemble

    Angela Wand
    Marie Asplund
    Simon Granit Ossoinak
    Tobias Ulfvebrand
    Viktor Gyllenberg

    CREATIVE 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, Uppsala: Mikael Moritz
    Lighting Design, Malmö: Huld Ragnarsdottir
    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, Klas Brattberg

  • ProduCtion 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 Giertz

    Production 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 Lekander

    THANK YOU

    With support from the Swedish Arts Council, Region Stockholm, the City of Stockholm, Botkyrka Municipality & Sweden's Writers Foundation.

    Poster photo: Klara G