European premiere of SHAUN THE SHEEP’S CIRCUS SHOW announced
Leading performance company Circa and globally renowned, independent animation studio Aardman collaborate in the European premiere of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, this winter.
Aardman’s classic, slapstick, comedy character Shaun the Sheep is combined with live circus performance, simultaneously blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus for a visual spectacle packed with wit.
Shaun, Bitzer and the Flock entertain the Farmer, and the audience, with incredible feats of daredevil acrobatics and circus skills including tumbling, juggling, aerial hoop, aerial silks, trapeze, Spanish web and Chinese pole, plus Aardman’s signature heartwarming comedy.
Led by internationally acclaimed artist and Artistic Director and CEO of Circa, Yaron Lifschitz, the Circa Ensemble demonstrate incredible circus skills whilst embracing the fun, humour and playfulness found in the world of Shaun the Sheep. Seamlessly blending the dimensions of animation, stage, film and live acrobatics, scenic Designer Dan Potra and Costume Designer Libby McDonnell have created a new world for Shaun and his Flock to inhabit.
Circa are at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, redefining the art form by showcasing how extreme physicality can forge powerful and emotive experiences. For almost 50 years, Aardman has entertained the world, creating much loved characters such as Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and Chicken Run.
Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director and CEO of Circa said “Shaun the Sheep is a playful, rambunctious feast of humour, good spirits and the triumph of the little guy. The medium of circus is a perfect vehicle for bringing these qualities to the stage. Melding the worlds of stage and screen and incorporating the extreme physicality of circus without losing the emotional depth and charm of the original is a major creative challenge – it’s the sort of thing we at Circa thrive on.”
Ngaio Harding-Hill, Head of Attractions & Live Experiences at Aardman said: "We're delighted that Shaun the Sheep Circus’s Show will be making its European debut in Manchester following international success in Australia and Singapore. Circus performance is an ideal medium for capturing the slapstick physicality of our characters, and the performance is a riotous celebration of the fun and humour of the world of Shaun the Sheep"
John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Circa and Aardman to present the European premiere of this fun-filled show at our home in Aviva Studios. Circa present award-winning circus performances to audiences across the globe and their collaboration with Aardman Studios creates a unique offering for families, circus fans and everyone that loves Shaun the Sheep.”
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