Something unique is flying into town this month in Edmonton! The Alberta Circus Arts Festival takes over the French Quarter in Bonnie Doon June 23-26 for four days of incredible performances, fun community activities, workshops and professional development for folks in the arts community.
“Edmonton is known for its amazing festivals, and we can’t wait to continue building its reputation with this new event. We’re looking forward to inspiring Edmontonians with circus arts and returning center stage after nearly two years,” says Annie Dugan, Executive Producer of the Alberta Circus Arts Festival.
There are four shows for the general public to view over four days. These contemporary circus shows will be on an intimate scale, allowing for visceral and empowering reactions. They also include performers from across Canada.
Sweat and Ink by Montreal’s Barcode Circus Company
June 23 & 24, 2022 at 7:30pm
Sweat and Ink is an athletic and compelling exploration of memory through acrobatic metaphor. A journey in 4 intertwined stories where each artist competes in technical prowess through a circus discipline (aerial hoop, cigar box, Russian bar, hand to hand acrobatics) to deliver a piece of an imaginary life. Remarkable, raw, messy, funny and poignant, it is a show that will make you laugh, cry, jump, marvel, and above all, will take your breath away. Based in Montreal, the Barcode Circus Company is an innovative collective that pushes the limits of contemporary circus. Numerous awards have recognized their talent. Sweat and Ink were performed to much acclaim at Montreal’s TOHU in December 2021. This will be Barcode Circus Company’s premiere performance in Alberta.
Get your tickets to Sweat and Ink here
It’s a Wonderful Night (Cabaret) by Aerial & Circus Arts Cabaret
June 24, 2022, at 9:30 pm (Not suitable for children)
The Alberta Circus Arts Festival is proud to present an evening of aerial arts, acrobatics, magic, comedy, etc. Hosted by a team of international comedians, It’s a Wonderful Night features Albertan circus artists and some exceptional performers from all over Canada. Leave the little kids at home; this show is for the big kids. This unique, late-night cabaret will take place in the rotunda of La Cité and have a site-specific flavour. You will witness dramatic, upside-down aerial and acrobatic maneuvers up close and personal. Expect the unexpected – you don’t want to miss this show!
Get your tickets to It’s a Wonderful Night (Cabaret) here
The Fish at the Bottom of the Sea & Into the Fire by Leda Davies and Holly Treddenick
June 25, 2022 at 2:00pm
Solo creation is the most intimate yet demanding style of performance. ACAF is proud to present a double-bill of solo devised creations from two incredibly talented and multi-disciplined contemporary circus artists. Calgary’s Léda Davies (Fish at the Bottom of the Sea) is a circus-theatre practitioner, and Toronto’s Holly Treddenick (In the Fire) is a circus-dance artist. Campus Saint-Jean green space will be used for this performance. The seating will be on the grass. The performances will be followed by a live Q & A discussing solo circus creation with the artists and creative teams and ACAF-mandated professional development opportunity for the circus, theatre and movement artists.
Get your tickets to The Fish at the Bottom of the Sea & Into the Fire here
Throwback by Winnipeg’s The Street Circus
June 25, 2022 at 7:30pm and June 26, 2022 at 2:00pm
Winnipeg’s The Street Circus is proud to present a new show called Throwback, a circus and acrobatic spectacle paying homage to the music, television, video games and pop culture of the 1980s and 1990s. The show will delight audiences with comedy, world-class acrobatics, aerial artistry and a healthy dose of nostalgia. Produced with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts, Throwback features internationally acclaimed and award-winning circus artists from Winnipeg and beyond.
Get your tickets to Throwback here
Alberta Circus Arts Festival FREE events
There is also a slew of FREE community events throughout the festival, including a fun stilts workshop for all!
- Friday, June 24, 5-7 pm: 5@Cirque (Circus Happy Hour) w/En Piste at Café Bicyclette
- Friday, June 24, 9 pm: Cafe Bicyclette Patio Series Party After Show
- Saturday, June 25: 12-4 pm: Outdoor Stilt Workshop – Free for All Drop-In Workshop
- Sunday, June 26: 12-4 pm: Outdoor Stilt Workshop – Going Higher (Sign Up on Saturday, June 26)
Plan your time at the Alberta Circus Arts Festival here
We’re looking forward to attending – perhaps a fun night out for the cabaret or a family-friendly trip to see Throwback. We can hardly believe festival season is here already!
Alberta Circus Arts Festival runs June 23-26, 2022 at Le Cité Francophone, 8627 Rue Marie-Anne Gaboury, Edmonton, AB T6C 3N1. Tickets can be purchased online at www.albertacircusarts.com.
This post has been created in partnership with Firefly Theatre & Circus, all opinions and content are my own.