Presenting the three finalists of the Prix du CALQ for the best circus work
From introspection to scenic grandeur, the finalists of the CALQ Prize for Best Circus Work reflect the creative richness and artistic maturity of Québec’s circus arts. SCUSE, Play Dead, and Grand-Mess’ embody powerful and distinctive visions that affirm circus as a bold, living art form deeply rooted in Québec’s cultural fabric.
Grand-Mess’ – Machine de Cirque
To mark its tenth anniversary, Machine de Cirque invited audiences into a festive and immersive experience full of striking and grandiose scenes staged by Martin Genest. The structures designed to support circus equipment integrated creatively with the neo-Romanesque architecture of the spectacular Saint-Charles de Limoilou church. During Grand-Mess’, acrobats fell from the sky, a hawk soared through the majestic space, and inspired music echoed beneath the arches as aerial artists took flight. Fourteen vibrant characters delivered original performances in group free ladder acts, on a rotating Korean plank, on the wheel pole, in acrobatic puppet manipulation, and with a Cyr wheel enhanced by projections within and around the apparatus. Grand-Mess’ glorified the divine as much as chaos and left audiences with a lasting impression by celebrating circus in all its virtuosity and poetry. Watch the presentation video of Grand-Mess'
Play Dead – People Watching
The Montréal-based collective People Watching created Play Dead using a meticulously choreographed circus vocabulary that blends physical theatre and acrobatic virtuosity with a touch of the absurd. Ruben Ingerwen, Jérémi Lévesque, Natasha Patterson, Brin Schoellkopf, Jarrod Takle, and Sabine Van Rensburg explore a universe inspired by the exhilaration of youth's twilight and life's laughable moments. Since its debut, Play Dead has garnered strong interest from the circus and dance communities, touring festivals and theatres in Europe and the U.S. In a short time, these creators of a singular and vibrant contemporary circus have become proud ambassadors of Québec circus. Watch the presentation video of Play Dead
SCUSE – Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard
SCUSE is a mature work featuring an exceptional and meaningful acrobatic language aligned with the artist’s feminist engagement. Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard performs with an aerial hoop in a scenography shaped by a visible rigging setup and audiovisual elements that contribute to a powerful personal narrative. With their experience as a filmmaker, they brilliantly script this documentary circus from life moments that have shaped their perceptions of femininity and sexuality. They thoughtfully question gender conditioning and occasionally elicit audience responses beyond the performance itself. The creative process of SCUSE spans four years, during which Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard establishes valuable connections with major European networks to the benefit of the Québec circus sector. Watch the presentation video of SCUSE
CIRCUS ARTS AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT
The presentation of both circus arts awards will take place before the performance of The Genesis, the opening show of the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival, on July 3, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Véronique Fontaine and Ms. Nathalie Maillé will be present to announce the 2025 award recipients.
Thank you to TOHU and MCC for hosting the award ceremony.
