Great Catch

A fresh take on circus, a genre that constantly pushes the boundaries of what it can be.

Great Catch showcases a new generation of makers in a vibrant circus program. The Circuscoalitie has selected three performances that push the boundaries of circus with courage, originality, and innovation. House of Circus presents an explosive mix of circus and drag, filled with glitter and humor. Knot on Hands plays with the (im)possibilities of partner acrobatics, creating a hypnotic movement language in Brace for Impact. On a Cyr wheel without screws, Fenja Barteldres transforms the circular ring into a completely new apparatus. Great Catch invites you to discover the many faces of circus. Catch it if you can!

Spotlight by House of Circus

House of Circus blends circus and drag, making them true pioneers in the field. With plenty of glitter, they touch on vulnerable themes of self-expression, strength, and gender identity. In SPOTLIGHT, they throw all their circus skills into the mix to claim that coveted place in the spotlight. This pursuit of perfection doesn’t come without doubts and bruises - but it does come with plenty of humor, makeup, and spectacle. Let these circus queens guide you, and let whatever comes, come.

‘Nick and Germain are extravagant and 200% diva. Behind this bombastic façade hide two sensitive and gentle souls, whom you just want to embrace and take home with you.’ – Lucho Smit (Festival Circolo)

‘Nick and Germain masterfully use circus as a contemporary medium to tell their story about unheard voices and acceptance. With a hefty dose of humor and glamour, they engage a broad audience.’ – Rosa Boon (TENT)

Brace for Impact by Knot on Hands

The innovative trio Knot on Hands creates a pure and hypnotic movement language filled with dizzying acrobatic ingenuity. They explore the (im)possible, view space as a dynamic co-player, and challenge roles - including those between man and woman. In Brace for Impact, they discover new ways of moving and traveling through space. In their search for balance, they find out what it means to put their full weight in someone else’s hands.

‘They blend dance and acrobatics into a hypnotic movement language.’ – Anita Twaalfhoven (Theaterkrant)

‘Knot on Hands takes partner acrobatics to the next level with their pure, innovative, and extraordinarily physical approach. In an exchange of trust, strength, and vulnerability, three bodies continuously challenge one another and explore new boundaries.’ – Mirjam Zwanenburg (Korzo)

Cyrrealism by Fenja Barteldres

Fenja Barteldres uses her Cyr wheel in a unique way: without screws. This transforms the circular ring into an entirely different apparatus - wobbly and unstable, sometimes oddly bent, then agile as a snake, or even broken into separate parts. In Cyrrealism, a whole world unfolds from a single metal wheel, forcing Fenja to continuously reinvent herself. A poetic metaphor about the imperfections of life.

‘Fenja Barteldres immediately stands out with her innovative approach to the Cyr wheel discipline, alongside her brilliant technical skill. By deconstructing the large metal wheel and using the individual parts separately, she creates completely new images and possibilities.’ – Menno van Dyke (Circusstad Festival)

‘Ingenious manoeuvring with metal arches (…) Some constructions are particularly striking, where the unsteady arc segments somehow manage to balance in an almost impossible state of equilibrium.’ – Fritz de Jong (Theaterkrant)

About Circuscoalitie

Great Catch is an initiative of the Circuscoalitie (Circus Coalition), a national collaboration of presenting and (co)producing organisations - Bijlmer Parktheater, Buro Piket, CC Amstel, Circusbende, Circusstad Festival, Codarts Circus Arts, Deventer op Stelten, Festival Circolo, Fontys Circus and Performance Art, Korzo, MAAS theater en dans, Panama Pictures, Schuur en TENT huis voor hedendaags circus. Through this collaboration, the Circuscoalitie aims to promote talent, performance spaces, and audience growth for circus in the Netherlands.