ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ROTEMANNAVÄGEN 10, SE 145 57 NORSBORG PHONE 08-531 998 30 | E-MAIL: [email protected] www.cirkor.se ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 2016 CIRKÖR WANTS TO BE THE PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTION OF TOMORROW Two hundred and seven thousand. Never before gränser (Clowns without Borders) and Postkod- The size of the appropriations does not in itself explain why have so many people seen our performances, Lotteriets kulturstiftelse (Culture Foundation of the we reach so many people. I would venture to say that this is participated in our training sessions, or in our Postcode Lottery) as part of the project Cirkus- to a great extent due to the art form of contemporary circus other activities, as during 2016. 207 000 people is hoppet. The Army Museum and the Knitting Peace itself, on our willingness to collaborate and on the fact an altogether extraordinary figure given the level of exhibition. Aquanauts together with Stockholm’s appropriations our activities receive in the form of Konstsim (Stockholm’s men’s synchronized that our work has an important thematic operating grants. These grants are vital to Cirkör, swimming team). Autostadt in Wolfsburg with focus/direction. and it is therefore essential for us to demonstrate performances and trial classes. Circus during that we use them effectively. They guarantee our school breaks in collaboration with The National ability to take artistic risks and increase our ability Federation of People’s Parks and Community to be socially relevant in various ways. However, Centers and Subtopia. Semester courses for children the size of these appropriations does not in itself together with Stora Teatern and Gothenburg City. explain why we reach so many people. I would venture to say that this is to a great extent due to Apart from attendance and numerous projects, the art form of contemporary circus itself, on our evidence of our success comes from witnessing willingness to collaborate and on the fact that our the increased recognition contemporary circus is work has an important thematic direction. This receiving as an art form in its own right. During the entire past year we have continued working with autumn, The Ministry of Culture commissioned a the theme we chose a few years ago: report from The Swedish Arts Council, to be carried BORDERS – Boundaries and boundary-crossing. out in 2017, that charts contemporary circus as a field of art and that reviews what efforts and actions Through the theme of BORDERS, and through a should be taken going forward. At the end of the transboundary outlook in working and collaborating year, we received word that the Swedish theater with others, we have been able to extend our reach. critics’ association, had bestowed its annual We can list numerous activities that are undertaken award on Cirkus Cirkör and our Artistic Director as various forms of collaboration. Here are a few Tilde Björfors. We were also informed that Tilde examples: would be awarded the major Swedish daily news- paper Expressen’s culture prize. All in all, these Circus classes and other educational activities events contribute to our feeling that we have together with Botkyrka Municipality. The upper broken through a glass ceiling for contemporary secondary school contemporary circus program circus as an art form. in collaboration with St Botvid’s high school. Daily practice sessions for professional circus performers Swedish circus is growing stronger and stronger, together with the trade association Manegen. The creating more and more rings on the water, with collaboration with our transportation partner Scania. a social commitment and international direction Chilla med Cirkör (“Chill with Cirkör”) together with that should inform other art forms. Cirkör wants to the housing company Mitt Alby. Co-productions be the art institution of tomorrow – a role model such as Horisonter with Västmanlands Teater, in terms of commitment as well as physical and Västerås, Sweden, and Satyagraha with Folkop- mental agility. We are changing the world through eran in Stockholm. A large number of organiza- our art! tions within the framework of the audience activ- ism project From Fear to Action. Clowner utan Anders Frennberg, CEO Cirkus Cirkör On tour over land and sea ARTISTIC OPERATIONS PERFORMANCES LIMITS – TOUR IN SWEDEN AND EUROPE Limits’ first performance took place on March 19, 2016 at Västmanlands teater in Västerås, Sweden. “…straightforward and intimate, smart and Thereafter, Limits played in Gothenburg, Malmö captivating circus well-suited to its subject.” DN (SE), Helsinki (FI), Bergen (NO), Graz (AT), Herleen (NL), Düsseldorf (DE), the Swedish towns of Ytter- “Limits”, is exquisite circus poetry with an urgent järna, Linköping, Hallunda, Vara, Falun and Umeå, theme: migration.” SvD Caen (FR), finally wrapping up the year’s tour in “…circus of the highest quality with a maximum of Stockholm at The International Scene of Contem- meaningfulness and the best intentions. And it’s porary Dance. beautiful, too…” Expressen In 2016, Limits was performed 97 times for audi- It is one of Cirkus Cirkör’s touring productions and ences totaling 56 440 people. delves more deeply into the theme of boundaries SATYAGRAHA – A CO-PRODUCTION WITH and limitations. In classic Cirkus Cirkör fashion, FOLKOPERAN Limits turns perspectives on their head. Forcefully, with a cheeky commitment and a focus on possi- ”When the circus weaves threads around Gandhi, bilities, a world of fleeing, migration and new it is powerful. Circus director Tilde Björfors’ pro- borders is juxtaposed with the personal limitations duction breathes genuine musical understanding.” of the artists themselves. Svd Limits is the second production in our trilogy on ”Contemporary circus and opera in a perfect boundaries and borders (the first was Borders at union.” SVT Malmö Stadsteater in 2015). The final part, Move- ments, will premiere in Spring 2017. The themes ”Serious and gorgeous. The collaboration with of Borders and Limits have informed all of Cirkus Cirkus Cirkör is a hit.” DN Cirkör’s activities since 2014. On September 14, Folkoperan (The Swedish ON STAGE Folkopera) and Cirkus Cirkör’s version of the Philip Glass opera Satyagraha opened. It is the story of Circus performers the young Mahatma Gandhi’s time in South Africa. Saara Ahola, Anton Graaf, Einar Kling-Odencrants, It was then that he discovered Satyagraha, “the Manda Rydman and Peter Åberg. Truth-Force”, the beginning of what we have come to know as civil disobedience based on non-vio- Musicians lent resistance. Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson/Thea Åslund ON STAGE Creative team Directed and conceived by: Tilde Björfors, Texts: Circus performers Tilde Björfors, the ensemble, Nadia Ben Belgacem, Aino Ihanainen, Alexander Weibel Weibel, Magnus Arash Dehvari, Kajsa Bohlin, Tatiana-Mosio Björu, Sarah Lett, Oscar Karlsson, Nilas Kronlid, Bengonga, Qutaiba Aldahwa, Javid Heidari, Gustaf Rosell and Aaron Haakkala. Composer: Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson, Set Singers design: Fanny Senocq, Stefan ”Drake” Karlström, Gandhi: Leif Aruhn-Solén/Thomas Volle, Sonja Joel Jedström, Tilde Björfors, Costume design: Schlesen: Lisa Carlioth/Sibylle Glosted, Mrs Naidoo: Jonna Bergelin, Video design/projections: Johannes Hanna Fritzson/Paulina Pfeiffer, Kasturba/Mrs Ferm Winkler, Tom Waldton and Per Rydnert/Visu- Alexander: Els Mondelaers/Karolina Blixt, Kallen- al Relief, Lighting: Fredrik Ekström, Sound: Fredrik bach/Arjuna: Anton Eriksson/Lars Brissman, Parsi ”Börje” Danielsson Rustomji/Krishna: Johan Schinkler/Lars Arvidson. ARTISTIC OPERATIONS ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Choir Arash Azarbad, Carl Walin, Elin Skorup, John Kinell, Horisonter is part of a larger collaboration with Margaretha Westerlind, Maria Sanner, Michael Västmanlands Teater. This production was cre- Axelsson, Sofia Niklasson. ated for a young audience and has welcomed Creative team middle school students from the entire county of Västmanland. Horisonter moves the audience Music: Philip Glass, Lyrics: Constance De Jong thousands of feet above the ground and evolves after The Bhagavad-Gita, Libretto: Constance de into a balancing act in the gap between the safe Jong, Philip Glass, Publisher: 1980 Dunvagen and the unknown. The show’s music was freshly Music Publishers Inc. Used with permission. composed by Andreas Kullberg and the ensemble Orchestral arrangement: Anders Högstedt, Directed consists of actors, circus performers and dancers. by & set design: Tilde Björfors, Musical director: Matthew Wood, Conductors: Matthew Wood, Alice On stage Farnham and Marit Strindlund, Set & costume Tarek Halaby, Imogen Huzel, Andreas Kullberg, design: Dan Potra, Lighting design: Patrik Brogård, Hanna Strandberg Make up and wigs: Therésia Frisk, Dramatist: Creative team Magnus Lindman, Choreography: Cilla Roos. Directed by: Olle Strandberg, Set and costume Satyagraha was performed 47 times at Folkoperan design: Dom fantastiska (Tami Salamon, Sepidar iin Stockholm for audiences totaling 23 632 people. Hosseini, Iwa Herdensjö), Lighting: Sofia Linde (artistic guidance Christer Billström), Composer: Andreas Kullberg, Dramatist: Bodil Persson HORISONTER – A CO-PRODUCTION WITH VÄSTMANLANDS TEATER Horisonter, a co-production with med Västman- lands Teater, opened on November 12, 2016 and ”Boundless at Västmanlands Teater… Cirkus was performed 18 times at Västmanlands Teater Cirkör treats us to hair-raising balancing acts” VLT in Västerås, for audiences totaling 1495 people. ARTISTIC OPERATIONS ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Creative team Conceived and directed by