Here comes Trengo: the Circus Arts are back in Porto

Porto Circus Festival aka Trengo is back from 28 June until 4 July. This edition will take ten shows to the Parque do Covelo and the Theatre Rivoli. The festival is organised by the company Erva Daninha, jointly with Ágora – Cultura e Desporto.

It is not hard to imagine that Trengo Circus Festival in Porto will lift spirits and revive the sheer joy of appreciating stunts and circus arts, under a contemporary approach.

For the first time, the Festival Trengo will be based in the Parque do Covelo, with almost all the performances being presented there but one, which will take to the stage at Rivoli. This year’s line-up includes absolute premieres by both Portuguese artists and companies, and international performances.

The opening performance “Recantos” happens on 28 June, at 7 pm, and it will repeat on 29 June. This is a home production, with artistic direction by Daniel Seabra and Vasco Gomes that offers “a fusion between the space, landscape and action architecture and the action by the circus arts”. This show includes the participation by several local artists, under the usual community approach taken by Trengo.

Tis Trengo edition features Spain as the country with greater representation, adding four shows to the line-up, namely “La Madeja”, by Irene de Paz, on 29 June, at 6.30 pm (it repeats on 30 June at the same time); “Espera”, by Francesca Lissia and Celso Pereira/Compañia of the Circo EIA, on 3 July, at 12 noon and at 4 pm; “Distans”, by the Vol’e Temps, on 4 July, at 11 and at 4 pm, and also “Só”, by Xampatito Pato, on 4 July, at 12 noon and at 3 pm.

The only show to be presented indoors takes to the Rivoli on 30 June, at 7.30 pm. The performance will also be broadcasted online and is themed “Pour Le Meilleur et Pour Le Pire”, by the French company Cirque Aïtal.

The French–Portuguese company “O Último Momento” takes “L’Autre” to the stage, a performance that joins the Portuguese artist João Paulo Santos and the hip-hop dancer Lliasse Mjouti, on 1 July, at 7.30 pm, and on 2 July at 6.30 pm.

New shows by Portuguese artists are no exception to this Trengo edition; as such, the 2021 Trengo features PIA, with “O2”, a performance that addresses “the frantic modernisation in such a fragile and uncertain future”. It is presented on 1 July, at 6.30 pm and repeats on 2 July, at 7.15 pm. Moreover, the company “Quando Sais à Rua” debuts its work “Vinil”, a sort of metaphor of a scratched disc and the repetition of an error and the way that interferes with life, time and body. The performance is presented on 3 July and on 4 July at 5 pm.

The company Oliveira & Bachtler, in turn, gathers elements of both countries: Portugal and the United States, and it is supported by England.

“Otus Extracts” is a show by Hugo Oliveira and Sage Bachtler Cushman (with the collaboration of Luciano Amarelo), which takes to the “stage” on 3 July, at 11 am and at 3 pm, featuring “circus techniques, physical theatre, clowns and scenography”.

The shows are access free, upon mandatory prior registration, and up to seat availability, via the email reservastrengo@gmail.com.

As regards the show “Pour le Meilleur e Pour le Pire”, by the French company Cirque Aïtal, the in-person or digital ticket can be purchased at the Ticket Office of Porto Municipal Theatre and at the Bol.

All activities can be consulted at the Erva Daninha website.