4th of September, Thursday, Klaipėda

19:00

@Culture Factory (Bangų str. 5A)

OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL. Circus performance „HEKA“ / Gandini Juggling (United Kingdom)

Everything is not as it seems

Directors: Sean Gandini & Kati Ylä-Hokkala,

Magic consultants: Yann Frisch, Kalle Nio

Performers: Kate Boschetti, Sean Gandini, Tedros Girmaye, Kim Huynh, Sakari Männistö, Yu-Hsien Wu, Kati Ylä-Hokkala with Doreen Grossman and Jose Triguero in alternance

Costumes: Georgina Spencer

Lighting design: Guy Hoare

Soundtrack: Andy Cowton

Coproduction: Maison des Jonglages, Scène Conventionée (FR), Théâtre d’Orléans / Scène nationale (FR)

Résidences: La Batoude, Beauvais (FR), La Garance, Cavaillon (FR), The Place, London (UK), The Point, Eastleigh (UK), 101 Outdoor Arts - National Centre for Arts in Public Space (UK)

Treiler: https://vimeo.com/1039049718

Photo: Kalle Nio, Camilla Greenwell

Duration: 60 min.

For children from 8 years

RECOMMENDED for families and those seeking unforgettable experiences

“The strange steals the show with irresistible allure!” Le Figaro / “They are confoundingly good” The Stage / “It was astonishing” Sceneweb / “Magic envelops pure dexterity with mysterious whimsy.” Libération / “Whether you’re drawn to magic, dance, juggling, or simply looking for an unforgettable experience, Heka will deliver on all fronts!” A Young(ish) Perspective / “An entertaining and mesmerising hour passes in a flash of trompe l’oeil, sleight of hand, distractions and revelations” British Theatre Guide

A conjurer is not a juggler; he is an actor playing the part of a magician; an artist whose fingers have more need to move with deftness than with speed. Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, Secrets of Conjuring and Magic, 1868

Juggling and Magic are like long lost sisters. So similar and yet so different. Drawing inspiration from the intricate connection between the two, Heka (the Egyptian goddess of magic!) transports audiences into a mesmerising realm where reality blurs with illusion. Heka transcends boundaries, inviting spectators on a journey where objects materialise and vanish, levitate, and transform before their eyes. Yet, beneath the surface lies a tantalising question: what is real and what is merely a trick of perception? Infused with a captivating blend of humour and philosophy, Heka marks a departure for Gandini's renowned repertoire. Director Sean Gandini, whose artistic journey began in Havana half a century ago, revisits his magical roots in this hybrid performance. Above it all it is a celebration of the silliness and absurdity of entertainment, a homage to the delights of the absurd. 

Formed in 1992 by world-renowned jugglers Sean Gandini and Kati Ylä-Hokkala, Gandini Juggling continues to be at the vanguard of contemporary circus, reinventing and reinvigorating juggling for the 21^st Century. Gandini Juggling celebrates juggling in all its facets, exploring not just what juggling is, but what juggling can be. Currently an ever-evolving ensemble made up of a virtuosic core group of jugglers. Ferociously prolific, they are constantly creating new works. Since their inception the Gandinis have performed over 6,000 shows in 50 countries. They continue to perform at many of the most prestigious festivals and venues throughout the world. Despite collaboration with renown orchestras, composers, fashion designers, mathematicians, they also choreographed the Olivier Award winning Philip Glass Opera Akhnaten, and made critically acclaimed tributes to Pina Bausch and Merce Cunningham.

In addition to performing, Gandini Juggling is very much in demand at leading circus schools and supporting the next generation of circus artists. Alongside, Gandini publishes books. They aim to reposition juggling as a versatile, engaging and malleable art form for our times. https://www.gandinijuggling.com/