It’s that time of year when we launch our annual series of Fringe preview Q & A’s. Here, Jeannot Painchaud, President and Chief Creative Officer of Cirque Eloize, talks about Cirkopolis.
In one sentence tell us about your show.
Cirkopolis is a great blend of circus, dance, theatre with original music and innovative video projections. Cirkopolis is also a family, a beautiful group of artists, some of the most talented in the world.
What made you decide to bring a show this year?
On the verge of our 25th anniversary, we wanted to attract more attention on this particular production, hoping to get more dates in the upcoming years. The show is already a huge international success, so it was a natural decision to bring it to Edinburgh. We found the perfect partner in Pleasance, and we hope it will be the first of many collaborations for the future. The Fringe offers a great platform for production like ours, which we should have visited more often in the past.
Any advice you’ve heard or can give to anyone coming to the Fringe for the first time?
You’ll be blown away by the amount of productions presented. It could be a little bit overwhelming. I have told all the artists on Cirkopolis to open their minds and their eyes, to experiment as many creative projects as possible. This should surely inspire them for the years to come.
What makes your show stand out from all of the others on offer? (Don’t say that it’s because you’re in it!)
I have left the stage many years ago… so definitely not because I’m in it! Cirkopolis stands out for many reasons, but mostly because of its artistry and its message still very actual today. Cirkopolis is like a dream, a world where everything is possible, where someone’s dreams become reality.
What show, other than your own, do you not want to miss?
I haven’t done my preparation yet, but I’ll try to visit as many venues as possible. I’ll wait for the third or fourth week, and try to find the not to be missed shows.
Finally, the boring but essential bit…
Name of the show: Cirkopolis
Venue: Pleasance at EICC (Venue 150)
Dates: 4 August – 28 August 2017
Time: 19:30 (Saturday matinees at 14:30)
