Circus Abyssinia

A tale of the circus, told through breathtaking feats of acrobatics, juggling, contortion and dance, Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams is a show inspired by the dreams of its cast.

Based on the story of famous jugglers Bibi and Bichu, who imagined the circus in a country without one, and made a better life for themselves and other Ethiopian acrobats in circus worlds overseas, the show revolves around two little Ethiopian brothers, who ask the Man in the Moon to fulfil their most ardent wish: of juggling amid the daredevil wonders of circus.

The boys' wish is granted. In a twinkling, they are whisked into a realm of mischief, magic and surrealist night, where they are far from alone. Little Bibi and Bichu encounter a host of other circus dreamers: dancing, contorting, gravity-defying figures, all weaving tales of their own. The stage, like the spotlight of a moon, reveals glimpses of these other stories and dreams, narrative threads that entwine, even threaten to ensnare, but ultimately lead towards an unconsidered possibility: an out-and-out Ethiopian circus.

Fantastical and joy-driven, starring the inimitable Konjowoch Trouple and accompanied by a soundscape that draws on Ethiopia’s rich musical past and present, Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams is a transformative celebration of circus itself.