• A dozen circus professionals who have taken refuge in Angers will give the first performance of a "committed and unique" show this evening.

  • "Borrowing from hope and freedom", it was put together in a few weeks thanks to the support of Anjou Théâtre in particular.

Their troupe is called Zirka, which means star in Ukrainian, a symbol of peace.

This Wednesday is a big day for a dozen circus artists who fled their country barely three months ago because of the war.

Under a big tent, these professionals who have taken refuge in Angers will give the first performance of a "committed and unique" show this evening.

First until Sunday at the Terra Botanica park, these acrobats, clowns, jugglers or contortionists will then perform all summer long in the four corners of the Pays-de-la-Loire, before other dates in France and in particular in Paris. (La Villette) in October.

Set up in a few weeks, the project was born in the mind of Frédéric Couturier, the director of Anjou Théâtre.

Already in contact with a Ukrainian juggler who settled in France a few years ago, he had the idea of ​​hosting artists "in trouble" in Angers, with the support of the Maine-et-Loire departmental council. .

“Some were interrupted in the middle of the tour, others were trying to leave, and some had already managed to flee, says the one who is also director of culture and heritage at the department.

We were able to organize their arrival, then we helped them with the procedures, the accommodation... You can't imagine what it's like to arrive with your child in your arms and just a small bag, after having left your husband at the front.

It is important for them to continue to exercise their profession,

while participating in a fight in their own way.

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Artistic creation after the destruction of a country

These men and women, some of whom only knew each other by sight or name, have in common that they are all graduates of the kyiv circus school.

Recognized in their country but also internationally, they have transformed their numbers to build a show “imbued with hope and freedom”, surrounded by two directors.

A juggler's club that takes the form of a missile, the sound of an airplane that mingles with classical music... "We play on metaphors, the objective is to respond to the destruction of a country through artistic creation, explains Frédéric Couturier.

It is a militant show but which remains general public.

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Spectators can choose the price of their ticket, from 10 to 20 euros.

All of the profits will be donated to associations that help the Ukrainian populations.

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  • Company

  • Angers

  • Pays de la Loire

  • Circus

  • War in Ukraine