The Tradition has been maintained for 81 years and the Circus always returns to the Coliseu, renewed

“Welcome to the greatest show in the world”. Coliseu Porto Ageas opens its doors today to a nonstop tradition since 1941: the Circo de Natal. A show that promises to delight children and adults alike until January 8. With over 30 artists and creators, from six countries, there is room for dance, magic, fire, clowns and even a wheel of death.

The opening, as tradition also dictates, takes place on December 9. This year, this Friday at 09:00 pm. Rui Paixão cannot wait to step on stage and, along with 30 other artists, spread the magic of circus arts. Used to Cirque du Soleil – the first Portuguese to join the cast – he takes on, at Circo do Coliseu, the challenge of being the artistic director and, at the same time, presenting himself on stage as a clown who really wants to be a villain.

“Many headaches as usual in any opening. They are part of the creative process”, confesses Rui Paixão, leaving a compliment to the cast at his disposal: “We have a very professional group of artists. We have a lot of fun and now it is time to try to pass that on to the public”.

This year, the show is inspired by the unfinished fable “The Giant of the Mountains” by Luigi Pirandello. There will be a bit of everything: music, dance, magic, fire, juggling, clown, hair suspension, rolla bolla, pins, diabolo, cyr wheel and even a wheel of death.

The setting has a great visual impact, reminiscent of a video game or a cyberpunk desert, almost recreating the children’s version of “Mad Max”. To create this universe, Circo de Natal has artists from different countries, like Portugal, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Polland and Russia. Some of the acts will be presented for the first time with live music played by Banda da Festa do Circo.

The composer Ramón Galarza assumes the musical direction of the show. With many years on stage, he assures that he took great care in preparing it, “as I always do when I engage in a project”. Everything became easier, he says, also with the partnership created with Rui Paixão. “I have never had a relationship like this before. Without clashes. He is a highly organized person; he is very sure of what he wants. It went beautifully.” He says.

In addition to Ramón Galarza and Rui Paixão, Circo de Natal has the illusionism direction of Mário Daniel, a reference in magic both nationally and internationally. All the moments of magic were purposely created by himself for this show.

Show with some news

The Circo de Natal has, this year, some news. “We have always reinvented the forms and conventions that the traditional circus has shown over the years, as an art form, always looking for an evolution from an aesthetic and narrative point of view”, says the president of the Coliseu.

“With this show, we are also reinventing what is a traditional habit of families in Porto and the surrounding area, this time of year. They manage to have a new show that is always new here”, adds Mónica Guerreiro.

The news include, for example, auditions to find “hidden talents”, the existence of a comfort room, a kind of “refugee” for those who feel anxious or simply need a quiet moment or even to be used for breastfeeding, and sessions with audio description and Portuguese sign language.

For further information about schedule and tickets, check the official website of Coliseu do Porto Ageas.