For the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of regularly visiting Berlin to catch the latest contemporary circus show at the beautiful Chamaeleon Theatre. This landmark theatre in Mitte’s iconic Hackesche Höfe attracts the world’s leading circus productions while also supporting new local talent, making it a truly influential part of Berlin’s creative scene.
2019 is particularly special for the Chamaeleon as it celebrates 15 years of new circus. It’s also set to welcome its 1,000,000th visitor in its birthday year, which is rather exciting for that special person.
This twice-yearly jaunt has given me the chance to see how truly diverse their programme is and they’ve certainly kept up the high standards with new show Memories of Fools by award-winning Czech company Cirk La Putyka.
Directed by Rostislav Novák Jr, this enchanting show tells the story of a little boy (Vojtech Fülep) dreaming of becoming an astronaut. It opens with archive footage of Neil Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon and three of the nine performers appearing as astronauts and moving as if weightless – a theme that recurs in various forms throughout. It’s also fitting that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, a historic moment that most of us have etched in our collective memory.
He shares his space ambitions with his pal (Filip Zahradnický) and their friendship is so endearing and innocent, as they mess around with home-made astronaut costumes and juggle with models of the planets. Their playtime soon gets interrupted by bad boys in black hoodies that leap and somersault on the teeterboard, eventually getting them in trouble with their parents.
The young boy might not be the most likely NASA candidate, but he triumphs over his peers and is chosen for the all-important rocket mission. During this time he falls in love with a beautiful blonde astronaut, and his parents benefit from the fame, attempting to become a showbiz duo with some slapstick moments.
The story is moved along with interludes featuring models of the solar system and the space rocket. Cirk La Putyka has a long family legacy of puppetry and the Novák brothers have kept the tradition alive.
The second part of the show becomes much more surreal and zany, as all of the characters take on a different personality. We are introduced to Bugs Bunny with an alienesque voice, a hip-swivelling Elvis, a suave Spanish matador, a candy-dipped Amadeus and the original naked couple Adam and Eve with extra shimmer.
Something I’ve discovered from watching many circus shows is that they all love a good party scene, so true to form, the disco soundtrack is cranked up with Elvis DJ-ing while Amadeus juggles vinyl records and the matador struts his stuff.
Unlike some of the more high-octane circus shows I’ve seen, Memories of Fools purposefully focuses on narrative, however there are still plenty of jaw-dropping tricks and ‘wow’ moments. The complex trapeze number performed by Adam and Eve (Solenne Baily and long-time partner Romuald Solesse) is simply dazzling and Šárka Fülep Bocková perfectly portrays the lack of gravity in space, spinning with such grace and lightness on the hoop. Alexandr Volný’s cyr wheel piece is also mesmerising and impressive.
Memories of Fools is a truly joyful show that will appeal to all generations and leave you feeling uplifted and nostalgic for simpler times. Some of the story is left open to interpretation and requires you to use your imagination and in a space as magical as the Chamaeleon, that isn’t so hard to do.
Memories of Fools runs at Chamaeleon Theatre until 18th August. For more information and booking, visit: www.chamaeleonberlin.com
Thanks to Chamaeleon Theatre, Holiday Inn Berlin – Centre Alexanderplatz and Berlin WelcomeCard for a great trip to Berlin.
All photos by Chérie City
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