The Garden of Earthly Delights
Produced by Circadium, directed by Daniel Gulko.
May 30-31, 2025
The 2025 Circadium production at FringeArts is both a romp and a manifesto.
We arrive on this earth tiny and defenseless, as we grow we find our ways to move through with more or less pain. But pain is not suffering – circus transforms pain into discipline and discipline into beauty. It’s this alchemy that makes circus art. We are each made up of parts, and choose which parts we show the world and which we keep secret. This show plays with public and private, and the work of care for our intimate selves, using circus skills and tricks, to explore how we see each other, how we show ourselves and how we can resist the algorithms to be whole and unique.
This circus is teamwork – there is no strand that cannot be in the tapestry, and the contrasts enchant the weave. A circus performance that is elegant & punk, rigorous, wild, generous, intimate; by 17 young and hungry artists flying through the air, spinning over the earth, bending, rolling and reaching to speak about what it is to be alive today, with all the chaos, all the fierce love. With its prowess and overcoming of fear, circus sets an example for others – that with courage and engagement we can transform the world. Among the death-defying acts, the greatest risk is a wish for peace.
Tell us your deepest worry – What’s its shape? How much does it weigh? With a little muscle and a little tenderness, we can carry it to a safe sweet place.
We start from ourselves, our beauty, our obsession, our fear and our hope.
Circus is a lush uncomfortable intimate exciting space of discovery – a garden of earthly delights.
PERFORMANCES
Friday, May 30 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 31 at 1 PM
FringeArts
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
TICKETS
$25 General Admission
$15 students, industry, 25 & under
$2 FringeACCESS
Recommended for ages 10+
ABOUT CIRCADIUM
Circadium is a 3-year, full-time, licensed & accredited higher education program for circus artists. The mission of the school is to provide students with professional training in contemporary circus, and to prepare them for work in circus and related performing arts fields. Operating in a renovated church facility in West Mt. Airy, Circadium opened its doors in 2017, and has enrolled students from 20 different U.S. states. In 2025 the program will also begin welcoming international students.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Daniel Gulko (author, director, choreographer, clown) is the artistic director of the radical circus company Cahin-Caha based in France.
Cahin-Caha (created 1998), self-defined as “mongrel circus” – hybrid, smart and playful – has the mission of provoking new relations between cultures and diverse forms of expression – circus, dance, theatre, visual arts, video and literature. Internationally renowned, supported by the Ministry of culture and the city of Marseille, productions include: “ChiencrU” 1988-2002, “Cabaret Imprudent” 2001, Grimm 2002-2005, Moby Locked Up 2007-2009. “REV“ 2009-2011, Rose 2011-2014, Bottom 2014-2017. Currently touring Very Bed Trip (2019) and “K” (2023) in
collaboration with Cirk La Putyka (2023). Cahin-Caha brings together never seen before circus inventions, polyphonic voice work, vertical dance and dervish whirling.
Guest teacher at Stockholm University of the Arts, and Artistic Director of Stockholm Cirkus Gymnasiet (2021-2024). Twice associated artist at the “Centre National des Arts du Cirque” (2004-2005 & 2007-2008) where he founded the Nomadic Creation Lab (LACRIMAE) project for international research in circus. He has led research projects in France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland with the companies Cirkus Cirkör, Cirk Laputyka, Circo Aero and others. Also associated at The Fine Arts Academy of Aix-en-Provence (FR); the National Arts Academy of Brno -JAMU (CZ), Codarts University, Rotterdam (NL); and DOCH University Stockholm (SE) where he directed the graduating performances. Supported by the BNP-Paribas Foundation (1999-2005). Secretary on the board of trustees for “Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe,” and member of the Board of Directors of Cirkus Syd (SE). American born, this polyglot polydisciplinary wanderer has spanned 5 continents in creative mayhem. Gulko spent the 80’s in Québec navigating between experimental and street performance, political art and modern rituals. Based in France since 1993, founding member and stage director of the circus collective « Pocheros » from 1993 to 1997. Clown and dancer, he has collaborated with: Mimes Omnibus, Tangente & Cirque du Soleil (CAN); Ctibor Turba & les Frères Forman (CZ); Meredith Monk & Keith Hennessy (USA) and Jiyu Geki Jyo (JAP); Arthur H. & Cie. Anomalie (FR).
“I work in the area between experimental circus, ritual theatre and body art. In order to be (not) precise, I name it ‘Zen-anarcho-surrealism’.”
— Gulko