Circa

After taking Sydney Festival by storm earlier this year, the world-renowned Circa (Beyond, Wunderkammer, Closer) return to the Edinburgh Fringe with a striking new show - a stirring journey of what it means to be human, and how our bodies, connections and aspirations all form part of who we are.

Here, ten acrobats question how much we can take as humans, exploring the physical limits of their bodies as they are pushed to the extreme. How much weight can we carry? Who can we trust to support our load? They lead us to reflect on our lives, our loved ones, the burdens we carry and the physical and emotional strength it takes to overcome them.

Created by Yaron Lifschitz, Circa’s Artistic Director, the stage is stripped bare as the vulnerability of a team of highly skilled acrobats is exposed. With incredible strength and integrity they connect each moment seamlessly with the next in a thrilling and heart-stopping performance. Glimpse their humanity as they as they find redemptive power in strength and celebrate what it means to be fiercely human.

Circa's reputation for fearless, boundary-pushing new circus is borne out in every one of their shows, which combine physical virtuosity with an expressive humanism.

Underbelly director Ed Bartlam comments, We’re delighted to be welcoming Circa back to Underbelly with Humans, following its premiere at Sydney Festival, as part of our varied Circus Hub programme which continues to bring the best in international circus to the Fringe. Underbelly have been working with Circa in Edinburgh since 2012 and Circa's commitment to creating original, challenging and striking contemporary circus is something that we’re thrilled to be able to bring to an Edinburgh audience once more.

Humans by Circa is commissioned by MA scène nationale - Pays de Montbéliard. Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Ministry for the Arts' Catalyst—Australian Arts and Culture Fund.