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Canadian Circus Makes Asian Premier in Seoul

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

The circus has evolved from its earlier traditional form and now combines acrobats, animals and clowns to create spectacular performances. Now a style of circus known as cirque nouveau, or contemporary circus, combines many different art forms such as trapeze, juggling and acting, to convey a story or theme.

Cirque Eloize, a Canada-based cirque nouveau troupe, is making its way to Korea to present its newest performance, “Nebbia.” The circus will premiere in Seoul for the first time in Asia this summer after debuting in Switzerland in December last year with rave reviews and a standing ovation from the audience.

Making the best use of the human body, “Nebbia” which means fog in Italian, intertwines, in an unusual, surreal and tragicomic way, the means of expression used in circus shows with those used in high theatrical art.

“Nebbia” presented by Cirque Eloize and co-produced by Credia, a local performance organizer, is the third part of their Sky Trilogy ― Nomade, Rain and Nebbia ― directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca. Credia put “Rain” on stage in Seoul in 2006, scoring a big success with the audience.

It is a rare case for a performance, which has been staged for less than one year, to come to Korea.

“The performance will touch the hearts of the audience. Nebbia was created for the theatrical performances focusing on a good storyline inspiring imagination compared to other circuses like Cirque du Soleil’s spectacle and large-scale performances in large theaters,” Chung Jae-wook, president of Credia, told reporters in a press conference in Seoul.

He said that the shows presented by Cirque Eloize concentrate on emotions and imagination rather than acrobatic technique itself.

In the circus, the fog takes center stage and reality is transformed into a dream, blending acrobatic theater and modern circus.

Producer Jeannot Painchaud said that the show by Daniele Finzi Pasca provokes nostalgia in the audience.

“Pasca has a strong sensibility and poetic expression which can touch people,” Painchaud said. He also said that Nebbia goes beyond the theatrical genres set by the existing circuses and other performances because of its creative imagination.

Painchaud said that the current circus trend began about 20 years ago in the 1970s-80s. The present circus has been influenced by European theatrical elements, leading to the current artistry.

The performance will be staged at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from July 9-20.

The performance will run for 140 minutes including 20-minute intermission. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266 or visit www.nebbia2008.com.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr

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