Published: 23 April 2025
Redefining the Art of Contemporary Circus
What happens when you mix the raw power of dramatic theatre with the expressive, poetic movement of contemporary circus? Or when you trade in spectacle for a meditative experience that slows everything down? This year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów (July 24–27, 2025) brings two standout performances that challenge what we think circus can be. Prepare to meet Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas, whose thought-provoking works will shift perspectives and stir emotions in equal measure. Tickets will go on sale soon.
How a Spiral Works – Art For Rainy Days
A hypnotic blend of aerial acrobatics, dance, and Baltic folk music, “How a Spiral Works” unravels our assumptions about circus as a fast-paced spectacle. This slow, deliberate performance invites us into a shared world of balance, cooperation, and quiet connection amidst chaos.
With only a dancer, an acrobat, and a single rope, the piece explores the delicate give-and-take of relationships in motion. Can they find time to care for themselves while staying intertwined with one another?
Rather than push forward, “How a Spiral Works” asks us to pause. To breathe. To reflect on human connection—and the pace of our own lives.
📅 Saturday & Sunday (July 26–27)
Art For Rainy Days is an international trio composed of Jason Dupree (writer and creative lead), Alise Bokaldere (choreographer), and Izabele Kuzelyte (acrobat). Their collaboration is rooted in shared inspiration and artistic contrast—fusing emotion, movement, and unconventional ideas into quiet revolutions on stage.
Itch – Teatronas
In Itch, the Lithuanian troupe Teatronas takes a bold step into one of life’s most profound themes: our fear of death.
Inspired by the book “Staring at the Sun” by renowned psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom, Itch is a modern circus-theatre essay that merges physical performance with philosophical inquiry. Through literature, philosophy, and real stories from Yalom’s patients, the show becomes a search for meaning in the face of life’s only certainty.
In a world where death feels ever-present—through pandemics, wars, and natural disasters—Itch opens a space for quiet reflection. It doesn’t preach. It listens. It moves. And it invites the audience to do the same.
Themes of isolation, ambition, uncertainty, and conflict unfold through haunting imagery and contemporary circus language, reminding us that our deepest fears are often the most human.
Thursday & Friday (July 24–25)
With Itch, Teatronas marks a new chapter in its artistic evolution, courageously fusing drama and circus to tackle sensitive issues through unexpected, layered storytelling. Known for defying convention, the group continues to challenge what theatre—and social commentary—can look like.
Tickets will go on sale soon.
About the Baltic Nordic Circus on the road
Both performances are part of the “Baltic Nordic Circus on the Road” project, coordinated by Rīgas Cirks (Latvia) and supported by the Baltic Culture Fund.
Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas are members of the Baltic Nordic Circus on the Road—a collaborative of 22 organizations working across the Baltic and Nordic regions to strengthen the circus arts.
The project promotes artist development, cultural exchange, and innovation through workshops, residencies, seminars, and training programs—for both emerging artists and established professionals. Its mission is to foster regional cooperation, artistic excellence, and cultural identity across borders.
About this year’s edition
With most of the programme held outdoors and free to the public, Carnaval Sztukmistrzów brings high-quality performance art into the very heart of the city — making circus arts accessible and unforgettable. A few shows are ticketed and held under the big top or in theatres.
The 2025 edition will feature performances from international stars such as Gabriela Muñoz, whose show Julieta is a tender, comical portrait of a woman navigating aging and memory. Bursting with humour and zest for life, Julieta invites the audience into her tiny apartment — a space that becomes her entire universe. Through her daily rituals, we glimpse the stages of her life, watching her transform with tenderness and whimsy. The show draws inspiration from the real-life story of Muñoz’s great-aunt, adding an intimate, personal layer to an already enchanting performance.
Also featured in the 2025 programme is Winter, a genre-defying spectacle by the boundary-pushing collective My!Laika. Blending influences from literature, film, and music, this performance breaks every rule — and does it with masterful precision. What appears to be chaotic and absurd is, in fact, a tightly crafted celebration of the new circus form. Expect mysterious characters, poetic circus vignettes, and a web of interwoven stories that reflect on death, fleeting joy, and the quiet despair of facing global crises.
Stay tuned — more artist announcements are on the way!
Ticket sales begin mid-May.
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24–27 July 2025
Lublin – Old Town & Błonia near the Castle
Admission to most events is free | | Selected performances ticketed
Published: 23 April 2025
Redefining the Art of Contemporary Circus
What happens when you mix the raw power of dramatic theatre with the expressive, poetic movement of contemporary circus? Or when you trade in spectacle for a meditative experience that slows everything down? This year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów (July 24–27, 2025) brings two standout performances that challenge what we think circus can be. Prepare to meet Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas, whose thought-provoking works will shift perspectives and stir emotions in equal measure. Tickets will go on sale soon.
How a Spiral Works – Art For Rainy Days
A hypnotic blend of aerial acrobatics, dance, and Baltic folk music, “How a Spiral Works” unravels our assumptions about circus as a fast-paced spectacle. This slow, deliberate performance invites us into a shared world of balance, cooperation, and quiet connection amidst chaos.
With only a dancer, an acrobat, and a single rope, the piece explores the delicate give-and-take of relationships in motion. Can they find time to care for themselves while staying intertwined with one another?
Rather than push forward, “How a Spiral Works” asks us to pause. To breathe. To reflect on human connection—and the pace of our own lives.
📅 Saturday & Sunday (July 26–27)
Art For Rainy Days is an international trio composed of Jason Dupree (writer and creative lead), Alise Bokaldere (choreographer), and Izabele Kuzelyte (acrobat). Their collaboration is rooted in shared inspiration and artistic contrast—fusing emotion, movement, and unconventional ideas into quiet revolutions on stage.
Itch – Teatronas
In Itch, the Lithuanian troupe Teatronas takes a bold step into one of life’s most profound themes: our fear of death.
Inspired by the book “Staring at the Sun” by renowned psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom, Itch is a modern circus-theatre essay that merges physical performance with philosophical inquiry. Through literature, philosophy, and real stories from Yalom’s patients, the show becomes a search for meaning in the face of life’s only certainty.
In a world where death feels ever-present—through pandemics, wars, and natural disasters—Itch opens a space for quiet reflection. It doesn’t preach. It listens. It moves. And it invites the audience to do the same.
Themes of isolation, ambition, uncertainty, and conflict unfold through haunting imagery and contemporary circus language, reminding us that our deepest fears are often the most human.
Thursday & Friday (July 24–25)
With Itch, Teatronas marks a new chapter in its artistic evolution, courageously fusing drama and circus to tackle sensitive issues through unexpected, layered storytelling. Known for defying convention, the group continues to challenge what theatre—and social commentary—can look like.
Tickets will go on sale soon.
About the Baltic Nordic Circus on the road
Both performances are part of the “Baltic Nordic Circus on the Road” project, coordinated by Rīgas Cirks (Latvia) and supported by the Baltic Culture Fund.
Art For Rainy Days and Teatronas are members of the Baltic Nordic Circus on the Road—a collaborative of 22 organizations working across the Baltic and Nordic regions to strengthen the circus arts.
The project promotes artist development, cultural exchange, and innovation through workshops, residencies, seminars, and training programs—for both emerging artists and established professionals. Its mission is to foster regional cooperation, artistic excellence, and cultural identity across borders.
About this year’s edition
With most of the programme held outdoors and free to the public, Carnaval Sztukmistrzów brings high-quality performance art into the very heart of the city — making circus arts accessible and unforgettable. A few shows are ticketed and held under the big top or in theatres.
The 2025 edition will feature performances from international stars such as Gabriela Muñoz, whose show Julieta is a tender, comical portrait of a woman navigating aging and memory. Bursting with humour and zest for life, Julieta invites the audience into her tiny apartment — a space that becomes her entire universe. Through her daily rituals, we glimpse the stages of her life, watching her transform with tenderness and whimsy. The show draws inspiration from the real-life story of Muñoz’s great-aunt, adding an intimate, personal layer to an already enchanting performance.
Also featured in the 2025 programme is Winter, a genre-defying spectacle by the boundary-pushing collective My!Laika. Blending influences from literature, film, and music, this performance breaks every rule — and does it with masterful precision. What appears to be chaotic and absurd is, in fact, a tightly crafted celebration of the new circus form. Expect mysterious characters, poetic circus vignettes, and a web of interwoven stories that reflect on death, fleeting joy, and the quiet despair of facing global crises.
Stay tuned — more artist announcements are on the way!
Ticket sales begin mid-May.
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24–27 July 2025
Lublin – Old Town & Błonia near the Castle
Admission to most events is free | | Selected performances ticketed
