

Makers | House of Circus, Knot on Hands, Fenja Barteldres |
Duration | 14460 min |
New circus that echoes
Great Catch showcases the highlights of the Dutch circus: a new generation of circus artists selected De CircusCoalitie. These artists push boundaries and challenge norms. They blend drag with vulnerability, playfully bend gender roles as only a circus can, and celebrate imperfection. Three performances offer a glimpse of how great the impact of circus can be. Featuring House of Circus, Knot on Hands and Fenja Barteldres.
‘Emerging circus talent in an appealing mix of humour and acrobatics.’ – Rosalie Fleuren, Theaterkrant (Great Catch 2024)
House of Circus blends circus and drag in a revolutionary way. With glitter and flair, 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 a coveted place in the limelight. This pursuit of perfection comes with its share of doubts and bruises, but also laughter, make-up, and spectacle. Let these circus queens lead the way and see where the magic takes you.
‘Nick and Germain are extravagant and 200% diva. Behind this bombastic façade are two sensitive and gentle souls you just want to wrap up in your arms and take home.’ Lucho Smit (Festival Circolo)
The trio Knot on Hands never shies away from reinventing the art of acrobatics. They challenge what’s possible, use the surrounding space as if it’s a living partner, and flip traditional roles – including those between men and women. In Brace for Impact, they explore new ways of moving and travelling through space. In their search for balance, they discover what it means to put all their weight into someone else’s hands.
‘They blend dance and acrobatics in a hypnotic language of movement.’ Anita Twaalfhoven (Theaterkrant)
Fenja Barteldres uses her Cyr wheel in a remarkable way: without screws. This transforms the circular ring into something entirely different – wobbly and unstable, at times oddly bent, then smooth and snake-like or broken into pieces. In Cyrrealism, a whole world unfolds from a single metal wheel, forcing Fenja to continuously reinvent herself in a poetic metaphor about the imperfections of life.
‘Fenja Barteldres shines with her innovative approach to the Cyr wheel discipline and her brilliant technical skill. By deconstructing the large metal wheel and using its individual parts separately, she creates entirely new images and possibilities.’ Menno van Dyke (Circusstad Festival)
Great Catch is an initiative of the Circuscoalitie, a national network of presenting and (co-)production agencies including 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 and TENT house for contemporary circus. Through this collaboration, the Circuscoalitie aims to stimulate talent, create more performance venues, and grow audiences for Dutch circus art.
Performance and makers | Nick van der Heyden (Hayden), Germain Charlat (Iconnee), Britt Timmermans, Mario Kunzi, Tijs Bastiaens, and Fenja Barteldres. |
Direction | Thomas Falk |
Production | Lysanne van Esch |
Technical direction | Simon van Beek and Bart Verzellenberg |
Marketing | Marieke van Oosten |
Business management | Juliette Talakua en Rosa Boon |
Bookings | Ellen Blom ID |
Co-producers of Great Catch | TENT house for contemporary circus, Festival Circolo, Korzo, Circusstad Festival, and Buro Piket |
Great Catch is made possible with support of | Fonds Podiumkunsten, Cultuurfonds, Fonds 21, Norma Fonds, Dr. Hendrik Muller's Vaderlandsch Fonds, M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting, and Stichting Gilles Hondius Foundation |




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