GREAT CATCH - A FRESH TASTE OF CIRCUS 2026
Young circus artists on tour through the Netherlands.
Great Catch showcases a new generation of makers in a vibrant circus program. The Circuscoalitie has selected three performances that push the boundaries of circus with courage, originality, and innovation. House of Circus presents an explosive mix of circus and drag, filled with glitter and humor. Knot on Hands plays with the (im)possibilities of partner acrobatics, creating a hypnotic movement language. On a Cyr wheel without screws, Fenja Barteldres transforms the circular ring into a completely new apparatus. Great Catch invites you to discover the many faces of circus. Catch it if you can!
Great Catch is an initiative of the Circuscoalitie (Circus Coalition), a national collaboration of presenting and (co)producing organisations. The partners are: Circusstad Festival, TENT, Festival Circolo, Korzo, Buro Piket in collaboration with MAAS theater and dance, Circusbende, De Schuur, Bijlmer Parktheater, Panama Pictures, Deventer op Stelten, CC Amstel, and the Codarts and Fontys training programs. Through this collaboration, the Circuscoalitie aims to promote talent, performance spaces, and audience growth for circus in the Netherlands.
HOUSE OF CIRCUS
House of Circus blends circus and drag, making them true pioneers in the field. With plenty of glitter, they touch on vulnerable themes of self-expression, strength, and gender identity. In SPOTLIGHT, they throw all their circus skills into the mix to claim that coveted place in the spotlight. This pursuit of perfection doesn’t come without doubts and bruises - but it does come with plenty of humor, makeup, and spectacle. Let these circus queens guide you, and let whatever comes, come. houseofcircus.com
KNOT ON HANDS
The innovative trio Knot on Hands creates a pure and hypnotic movement language filled with a dizzying array of acrobatic discoveries. They explore the (im)possible, see space as a dynamic co-player, and challenge roles - including those between men and women. Driven by the urge to keep discovering, they continuously find new pathways with their three bodies. For Great Catch, they are creating a new short piece incorporating elements from their performances Brace for Impact, Concrete, and Passing by. knotonhands.com
FENJA BARTELDRES
Fenja Barteldres uses her Cyr wheel in a unique way: without screws. This transforms the circular ring into an entirely different apparatus - wobbly and unstable, sometimes oddly bent, then agile as a snake, or even broken into separate parts. In Cyrrealism, a whole world unfolds from a single metal wheel, forcing Fenja to continuously reinvent herself. A poetic metaphor about the imperfections of life. fenja-circus.com
DIRECTION Thomas Falk CAMPAIGN IMAGE Gerrit Schreurs DESIGN Hanneke Kijkt MADE POSSIBLE BY Culture Fund • Fonds 21 • BNG Cultuurfonds • Dioraphte • Dr. Hendrik Muller's Vaderlandsch Fonds • M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting • Stichting Mr. August Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds
‘Emerging circus talent in an appealing mix of humor and acrobatics.’ – Rosalie Fleuren, Theaterkrant (Great Catch 2024)
‘Great Catch lives up to its name: the three featured circus artists are an exciting catch [...] A delightful showcase of diverse talents.’ – Brecht Hermans, Theaterkrant (Great Catch 2021)