Ciclicus is once again responsible for the artistic direction of Trapezi 2018

In its 22nd year the Festival’s artistic direction is still in the hands of Leandro Mendoza / Ciclicus Espectacles SL. This new direction which began last year wishes to establish this festival as a reference for circus performances in Catalunya as well as internationally.

The project of its artistic direction aims at promoting and regenerating Trapezi, a festival lasting many years, to turn it into a showcase of the circus sector in Catalunya and worldwide, including all its art forms.

This year’s programme includes shows by Catalan, state and international companies contributing with various formats and techniques. All shows must comply with three premises set by the direction 1/to have excellent technique and/or a variety in the acts and /or circus skills. 2/shows must be professional not amateur. 3/they must show a distinct will/desire to communicate with the audience. The shows included in the programme are meant to appeal to families, adults and professionals and to adjust the timetables and the spaces of performance to meet their needs. For the second year running, special attention has been given to foster show coproductions. Our wish is to knit a web of coproducers that may support artists, so that more challenging and demanding productions may be viable that would need larger teams of artists. However the Trapezi Festival, responsible for disseminating the catalan circus, should not limit itself to the period of time the festival lasts, but take part in national and international events throughout the year seeking new bonds/networks and future collaborations. Trapezi should be regarded as a showcase of our circus, but also as an opportunity to work with local and international cultural agents.

Trapezi – Catalan circus Festival

The city of Reus has hosted Trapezi, the Catalan circus Festival since 1997. Year after year, in the month of May, the streets of the city and its theatres are filled with shows that turn its squares into stages and the whole city becomes a giant circus ring.

With a seal of its own, open to various formats and ways of conceiving and living circus life, Trapezi becomes a frame of reference for all circus lovers, professionals, circus artists, programme planners/cultural agents/programmers and audiences that when the month of May comes all gather in the city of Reus.

Trapezi was awarded the National Circus Prize in 2012 by the Ministry of Culture. A few years before in 2007, the Generalitat (Catalan autonomic government) awarded the National Prize of Culture to its artistic directors for their contribution to the development of the circus in Catalunya, artistically and in the form of entertainment for large audiences. The prize also recognised the will to spread culture in all counties of Catalunya, and to have become a frame of reference among European festivals.