Cirquémétrage at Tollhaus: La Campistany transforms office life into circus art
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When office life becomes a circus nightmare
A desk, a flickering routine, and a world where even the telephone develops a life of its own: With Cirquémétrage, La Campistany presents a circus short drama about work, adaptation, and the quiet erosion of personal dreams at the ATOLL Festival 2026. The German premiere at the cultural center TOLLHAUS combines contemporary circus, acting, and the poetic logic of Magie Nouvelle into a precise stage experience.
Between file folders and abysses
Júlia Campistany transforms the office space into a surreal play zone. What initially appears as an orderly everyday life tips into a series of absurd shifts: objects fall out of their function, spaces open unexpected passages, and the seemingly controlled work environment begins to reveal its own mechanics. The production develops the atmosphere of a short film, where reality, dream, and a quiet nightmare merge.
Circus art as a language of overwhelm
Trapeze, mouth balance, and knife throwing are not merely used as artistic attractions. In the dramaturgy of Cirquémétrage, they embody the daily balancing act of a person who must cope with performance pressure, habit, and inner exhaustion. The acting of the performer arises from the smallest gestures, repeated routines, and a body language that makes visible the resistance against a productivity-obsessed system.
Light, set design, and the magic of the impossible
The set design adopts the sober aesthetics of a classic office: desk, lamp, folders, and technical devices form the surface of a seemingly rational world. However, the light design and stage technology constantly shift perception. An object disappears, a phone becomes an antagonist, an ordinary action suddenly gains the tension of an artistic boundary test. The production directs the gaze, deceives it, and simultaneously rewards the audience's attention.
An internationally developed production
Júlia Campistany hails from Alella near Barcelona and graduated in 2020 from the circus school Codarts in the Netherlands. As a performer, author, and director, she works at the intersection of contemporary circus and visual theater art. The production was supported and co-produced by Festival Circolo, CircusWerkplaats Dommelhof, Circus Kapel, Theater Korzo, and Theater In de Lugt, among others.
A Dutch theater criticism described Cirquémétrage as promising, fragile, and magical. Notably highlighted were the cinematic atmosphere, the intelligent technical ideas, and the connection of humor with a disturbing social diagnosis. The audience's reaction thrives on the interplay of wonder, comedy, and the recognition of one's own work routines.
Conclusion: A short evening with a lasting impact
40 minutes are enough for La Campistany to transform office life into a precise kaleidoscope of acrobatics, illusion, and black humor. Visitors can expect a concentrated production for ages eight and up that perceives contemporary circus as a sharp observation of our present. Those who want to experience theatrical atmosphere, unusual stage art, and artistic boundary crossings live should not miss this German premiere at the ATOLL Festival.
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