Published: 11 June 2025
Heavy Motors – a circus that defies definition
Three characters, one broken-down car, and a cascade of misunderstandings and absurd twists. Heavy Motors, by the French company Société Protectrice de Petites Idées, is a unique fusion of contemporary circus, dance theatre, acrobatics, and surreal humour. What begins as a seemingly simple situation spirals into an emotional rollercoaster.
About the Artists
The French collective SPPI is known for its original, genre-defying approach to circus arts. Their performances brim with clever humour, inventive staging, and a refusal to be neatly classified. It’s contemporary circus, but one that leans toward dramatic theatre.
Heavy Motors is no exception — a story of three characters tangled in a grotesque attempt to repair an “almost broken” car. Beneath this seemingly mundane premise lie deeper themes: daily frustrations, interpersonal miscommunication, and the beautifully bizarre fabric of human relationships. Audiences at Carnaval Sztukmistrzów can expect a circus experience where nonsense and absurdity blend with fluid movement and artistic expression.
“This performance is, at its core, a showcase of the body, deftly navigating the choreography of accidents and the physics of unpredictability. The artists, each with their unique presence and physicality, master circus and clowning techniques, seamlessly merging these disciplines to create a stunning mechanical ballet,” notes the French press.
Heavy Motors is multilayered: it can be enjoyed as a meticulously crafted show, a witty exploration of emotion, and an artistic commentary on everyday habits and social roles.
The performance will be presented twice — on July 26 and 27 — at Litewski Sq. in Lublin. Admission is free
Free shows
“Heavy Motors” is part of the free outdoor performance programme — a vibrant lineup that also features Épiphytes, a dreamlike spectacle by the Belgian collective La Cie des Chaussons Rouges, and Summer Heat – OnTestosterOn by the Czech company BoCirk — a thrilling blend of physical theatre, dance, contemporary circus, and even… high-speed go-karts.
TICKETED SHOWS
A quick reminder: ticket sales are underway for our paid performances! You can purchase tickets via our website or through the Stage24.pl platform.
Presale runs until June 30.
Among the ticketed shows is Julieta by Mexican artist Gabriela Muñoz — a wild, wordless tale of an aging woman navigating life with a suitcase full of experiences and quirks. The show was inspired by the life of Muñoz’s great-aunt and is as touching as it is delightfully absurd.
Also featured is Winter by the group My!Laika — a genre-defying spectacle drawing from literature, film, and music. This extraordinary performance breaks every rule in the book. Its stories reflect not only on death and the fleeting joy of the moment, but also on the quiet tragedy of characters overwhelmed by global crises.
The festival will also welcome Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas — two companies that will challenge and expand how we perceive contemporary circus.
Art For Rainy Days will present the hypnotic How Spiral Works — a stunning blend of aerial acrobatics, dance, and traditional music from the Baltic region.
Teatronas invites us into a theatrical-circus essay that explores our deep-rooted fear of death.
We’ll also see No Yes You by the Kejos Collective, winner of the Polish Incident open call for a Polish production. This honest, emotionally charged performance doesn’t shy away from difficult themes — tackling failure, fear of judgment, and the struggle with one’s own limitations.
Event Details
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24-27 July 2025
Lublin, Old Town and Błonia near the Castle
Admission is free. Tickets needed for some paid shows.
Published: 11 June 2025
Heavy Motors – a circus that defies definition
Three characters, one broken-down car, and a cascade of misunderstandings and absurd twists. Heavy Motors, by the French company Société Protectrice de Petites Idées, is a unique fusion of contemporary circus, dance theatre, acrobatics, and surreal humour. What begins as a seemingly simple situation spirals into an emotional rollercoaster.
About the Artists
The French collective SPPI is known for its original, genre-defying approach to circus arts. Their performances brim with clever humour, inventive staging, and a refusal to be neatly classified. It’s contemporary circus, but one that leans toward dramatic theatre.
Heavy Motors is no exception — a story of three characters tangled in a grotesque attempt to repair an “almost broken” car. Beneath this seemingly mundane premise lie deeper themes: daily frustrations, interpersonal miscommunication, and the beautifully bizarre fabric of human relationships. Audiences at Carnaval Sztukmistrzów can expect a circus experience where nonsense and absurdity blend with fluid movement and artistic expression.
“This performance is, at its core, a showcase of the body, deftly navigating the choreography of accidents and the physics of unpredictability. The artists, each with their unique presence and physicality, master circus and clowning techniques, seamlessly merging these disciplines to create a stunning mechanical ballet,” notes the French press.
Heavy Motors is multilayered: it can be enjoyed as a meticulously crafted show, a witty exploration of emotion, and an artistic commentary on everyday habits and social roles.
The performance will be presented twice — on July 26 and 27 — at Litewski Sq. in Lublin. Admission is free
Free shows
“Heavy Motors” is part of the free outdoor performance programme — a vibrant lineup that also features Épiphytes, a dreamlike spectacle by the Belgian collective La Cie des Chaussons Rouges, and Summer Heat – OnTestosterOn by the Czech company BoCirk — a thrilling blend of physical theatre, dance, contemporary circus, and even… high-speed go-karts.
TICKETED SHOWS
A quick reminder: ticket sales are underway for our paid performances! You can purchase tickets via our website or through the Stage24.pl platform.
Presale runs until June 30.
Among the ticketed shows is Julieta by Mexican artist Gabriela Muñoz — a wild, wordless tale of an aging woman navigating life with a suitcase full of experiences and quirks. The show was inspired by the life of Muñoz’s great-aunt and is as touching as it is delightfully absurd.
Also featured is Winter by the group My!Laika — a genre-defying spectacle drawing from literature, film, and music. This extraordinary performance breaks every rule in the book. Its stories reflect not only on death and the fleeting joy of the moment, but also on the quiet tragedy of characters overwhelmed by global crises.
The festival will also welcome Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas — two companies that will challenge and expand how we perceive contemporary circus.
Art For Rainy Days will present the hypnotic How Spiral Works — a stunning blend of aerial acrobatics, dance, and traditional music from the Baltic region.
Teatronas invites us into a theatrical-circus essay that explores our deep-rooted fear of death.
We’ll also see No Yes You by the Kejos Collective, winner of the Polish Incident open call for a Polish production. This honest, emotionally charged performance doesn’t shy away from difficult themes — tackling failure, fear of judgment, and the struggle with one’s own limitations.
Event Details
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24-27 July 2025
Lublin, Old Town and Błonia near the Castle
Admission is free. Tickets needed for some paid shows.
