| Duration | 50 min |
| Part of | Cirque Mania |
Fresh out of college, right into the spotlights
Our Meet the Next-series features new makers who deserve a spot on our stage. During Cirque Mania, we offer three extraordinary circusmakers – who are all fresh out of college – the chance to show a short performance.
This edition features:
Jean-Baptiste Thevenod - This is knot a trapeze (Fontys)
Lily Nolan – With eyes closed (Codarts)
Sam Balthasar – Sam, Pascal, Carlos (Codarts)
Aylish Bik - Planet Circus (Fontys)
"In Unleashing the Next, I have selected four recent graduates from Fontys Circus and Performance Art and Codarts Circus Arts. Each of them displays a unique signature style, exceptional technique and a poetic or absurdist view of the world. Their pieces are surprising in form and content and showcase the future of circus."
— Mirjam Zwanenburg, program manager Cirque Mania
Aylish Bik – Planet Circus
Aylish takes you into a world that feels like a nature documentary, but full of humour and absurdity. With her handstands, she builds an ecosystem where nothing is what it seems. Mirjam chose her because she beautifully combines humour and abstraction and makes you feel like you are part of a new, unexpected biotope.
Jean-Baptiste Thevenod – This is knot a trapeze
Jean-Baptiste makes the trapeze forget that it is a trapeze. He unravels and unfolds the object and elevates rope technique to a poetic level. Mirjam chose him because he shows in a beautiful, simple way that no matter how tangled up you are, you can always find your way out.
Lily Nolan – With Eyes Closed
Lily's refined technique in handstands and acrobatics opens up a surrealistic world. Her work is poetic, dreamy and technically incredibly strong. Mirjam chose her because, with her mastery and refinement, she takes the audience to a place where logic dissolves and only the beauty of the moment counts.
Sam Balthasar – Sam, Pascal and Carlos
Sam is an inventor on stage. Mirjam chose him because his piece is crazy, goofy and playful. With his diabolos, acrobatics and self-built machines, he creates a chaotic and surreal universe in which nothing has to make sense, but everything does.
The order of the pieces will be announced later.
Part of Cirque Mania 20
An eye for circus. A heart for talent. After 10 years, the Cirque Mania festival is going strong. With growing and flourishing talents within circus theatre. From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2025, we will be celebrating the 20th edition in Korzo. You will see up-and-coming creators, the world premiere of FOOD by Korzo resident creator Michael Zandl, and everything in between.
Korzo Studio