When does the performance take place?

The performance begins on 21.09.2026 at 20:00 at the Cultural Center TOLLHAUS Karlsruhe.

How long does ARBO last?

The performance lasts 60 minutes.

What is the ticket price?

The ticket price is 22.50 euros per person.

Are there any special notes for the performance?

Yes, the performance contains strobe effects and is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Is the event indoors?

Yes, the performance takes place at the Cultural Center TOLLHAUS, making it an indoor event.

Where is TOLLHAUS located in Karlsruhe?

The Cultural Center TOLLHAUS is located at Alte Schlachthof 35 in 76131 Karlsruhe.

ARBO ignites a sparkling theater of light and air in Karlsruhe

Name: !Ukbum! / JEF KINDS & MIA DROBEC (BE)
Start: 2026-09-21T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-21T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Kulturzentrum TOLLHAUS

A floating visual frenzy of light, acrobatics, and fantasy

With ARBO, a stage space opens at the ATOLL Festival that wants to glow, float, and breathe more than tell stories. Jef Kinds and Mia Drobec transform the evening into an intense stage experience between new circus art, installation, and poetic performance: a metal cube full of thousands of lights, a body in motion within, surrounded by shadows, shine, and an atmosphere that tips loneliness into connection.

When light becomes dramaturgy

The production relies on a rare fusion of technology and artistry. The light here is not just an effect but a player. It models spaces, reveals moods, and traces every flight path of the acrobat as if with an invisible brush. This creates an immersive theatrical atmosphere where precision and poetry work closely together.

A universe between technology and tenderness

ARBO works with the tension between mechanical construction and human presence. The cube becomes a stage within the stage set, a resonance space for imagination and playfulness. The performer's movement meets a finely balanced interplay of music, light design, and costume design. The result appears concentrated, clear, and remarkably sensual at the same time.

New circus with an international profile

The credits demonstrate the international signature of the production: Jef Kinds as performer and co-creator, Mia Drobec as artistic director and co-creator, alongside a team of light, music, dramaturgy, and costume. The co-productions with PERPLX, Dommelhof, MiraMiro, and the nomination as a finalist at Circusnext 2025 underscore the artistic ambition of this work. For Karlsruhe, this means: contemporary circus at a high level, close to the present and open to great wonder.

Audience reaction and classification

An early review of ARBO describes the visual impact of the installation as so dominant that the aerial acrobatics occasionally take a back seat. This friction is precisely what makes the evening intriguing: The production consciously aims for overwhelm, for the interplay between spectacle and quiet concentration. Those who love the stage as a sensory total work of art will find ample nourishment for the eyes, ears, and emotions here.

Conclusion: An evening for all who understand theater as wonder

!Ukbum! / JEF KINDS & MIA DROBEC (BE) - ARBO promises an intense, visually striking stage experience full of light poetry and body art in Karlsruhe. For 60 minutes, a precisely crafted work of art unfolds, which leaves a lasting impression with its mix of acrobatics, technology, and fantasy. Those who wish to experience contemporary circus in its most sensual form should see this evening live.