GLORIOUS BODIES

Circus history archived in the body.

GLORIOUS BODIES is a physical, moving, and hopeful circus and dance performance about the capacity of our bodies, about seeing and being seen, about the border between classical and contemporary circus with six acrobats between 55 and 67 years old, each with a past in the (more) classical circus. Circus history archived in the body.

Aging remains a taboo in our society and certainly in the circus world. Similar to top athletes, most acrobats stop their intensive training regimen after a certain age. How do the most perfect bodies transform? As a human being, can you ever make peace with your own body? Can you be completely in harmony? GLORIOUS BODIES shines a light on the process of aging in a unique way. A process that happens to all of us. Something that is, in fact, happening right now, at this very moment.

The roots of the performance can be found in partner acrobatics and movement. GLORIOUS BODIES dismantles the clichés about the older generation. An impressive, charming, and humorous performance that shows us what the human body is actually capable of. A capacity that is clearly timeless and ageless.

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Credits

Concept, choreography: Piet Van Dycke

Performers: Winfried Deuling , Astrid Schöne, Det Rijven, Thorsten Bohle, Paul Griffioen en Johannes Fischer

Music: Kris Auwers

Installation: Arjan Kruidhof en Arjen Schoneveld

Dramaturgy: Marie Peeters

Costumes: Oona Mampuys

Lightdesign, technique: Casper Van Overschee

Executive producer: Sam Cunningham

Production: Circumstances

Coproduction: PLAN, Festival Circolo, DansBrabant, Cirklabo, Circuswerkplaats Dommelhof, PERPLX, Perpodium

Special thanks to: Miramiro, Destelheide, Wybren Wouda

With support of: The Flemish Government, Grensverleggers/deBuren

Quotes

★★★★★ - Frens te Kiefte, Circusweb

Do aging artists still matter? The pure performance, intense collaboration, and acrobatic mastery make any doubt about the answer to that question completely unnecessary.

Joost Goutziers

The acrobatic tricks are excellent. They are higher and riskier than expected, and the six acrobats, especially the two ladies, are enviably agile. Furthermore, Glorious Bodies is captivating and touching, thoughtfully designed, and very strongly choreographed.

Margot De Grave Loyson, e-tcetera

The standing ovation and the minutes-long applause testify the beauty and power of the performance that touched the spectators of all ages.

Wijbrand Schaap, Cultuurpers

I was deeply moved. Here we see people who don't give up, but who no longer have to hide how hard work this is for them. You feel the admiration that the choreographer has for his performers and notice how intensely they enjoy that performance.

Tuur Devens, Theaterkrant

The four men and two women play with pleasure and pride what their then-perfect bodies have transformed into, and how it can evoke admiration and wonder. They continue to play, they continue to enjoy their performance. For an hour, they were able to shine, virtuosic and also fragile.

★★★ - Charlotte De Somviele, De Standaard

Beautiful, strong, proud people are standing on this stage. They instantly make me a little less afraid of growing older.

2025

Posthuis Theater

Heerenveen (NL)