Acrobatic circus or a new art form with Trengo Circus Festival this evening in Porto

This Wednesday evening the Trengo Circus Festival introduces its first performance "Sweet Drama" by the exquisite artist Dulce Duca. This show combines skateboards, juggling acts, theatre, music and live painting at D. João I Square, starting at 7.30pm.

A little later this evening, at 9pm, the Auditorium of the Municipal Theatre Campo Alegre hosts the national premiere of "Le Vide - Essai de Cirque", based on an original idea by Fragan Gehlker, a string circus acrobat. It will take to the stage at Municipal Theatre Campo Alegre from 3 to 6 July.

The performance is directed by Fragan Gehlker, Alexis Auffray is in charge of the music and the stage direction and Maroussia Dias Verbèke compiles the dramaturgy of the play.

Fragan Gehlker, Alexis Auffray, and Maroussia Dias Verbèke put on a show that is concurrently surprising, fun and meaningful, which reinterprets "The Myth of Sisyphus (French: Le Mythe de Sisyphe), a philosophical essay by Albert Camus, published in 1942.

In the essay, Camus introduces the concept of the absurd and man's futile search for answers and clarity. This show seeks a comprehensive questioning on the meaning of life, according to the philosophy of Albert Camus.

A rope that is hung from the ceiling, like a pendant, is the starting point to ponder on the meaning of life and how we deal with the unknown when reaching moments of intensity, which are so common in our everyday lives.

The show repeats on 5 and 6 July and it is the only paid and indoor performance in the Trengo Festival Circus. After the performances in Porto, "Le Vide" show, which has been touring for the past eight years, will definitely terminate in Paris.

From 3 to 7 July, Porto hosts full five days of new circus arts in different venues in town, namely the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal, the Square D. João I and the Municipal Theatre Campo Alegre. Expect no less than 14 performances, in a total of 20 presentations by 30 artists of different nationalities.

The Oyun balancing act (it means game in Turkish) at the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal, on 4 and 5 July, respectively, at 7pm.

A further highlight of this event is "Calor", inspired by the "accidental travellers, who are forced to abandon their homes", on 5 and 6 July, at 9.30pm, also at the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal.

The performance "Gravitas", where "two partners build themselves a stage out of a floor levelled with air, which allows them to play with gravity" will be presented on 6 July, at 5pm, at the Gardens of the Palácio de Cristal.

All the performances included in the Trengo's programming are jointly organised with Porto Municipal Theatre and Porto Lazer.

Entrance to the events are free and children over three years old are allowed, except to the "Le Vide - Essai de Cirque", which is targeted at children above six years and costs 10 euros.

The closing party of the Trengo Festival is set to happen at Café Rivoli, starting at 11pm, on 6 July.

See here for ticket info.

PROGRAMME

D. João I Square

- Sweet drama: 3 July, 7pm

- 78 Tours: 6 and 7 July, 7pm

Palácio de Cristal

- Oyun: 5 July, 7pm

- Calor: 5 and 6 July, 9.30pm

- Esqueci: 6 July, 11am

- Clowns: 6 July, 4pm

- Gravitas: 6 July, 5pm

- Copyleft: 6 July, 5.30pm; 7 July, 4pm

- Maneia Tuba&Clown: 7 July, 11am

- Trengolas: 7 July, 4.30pm