(Luza runs into the big top through the artists’ entrance and takes the ramp into the ring. Lively jazz music is playing.)
Narrator: Welcome to TOHU’s big top tent! I see you came through the artists’ entrance. Are you a circus star?
(Luza looks all around in awe of the big top. She grabs onto a tent pole, then spins around and bumps into a big rolled-up carpet. She knocks it over, picks it up and tries to stand it back up, but it falls again. She finally gets it to stand up, and then leans on it, happy. The carpet falls again, taking her with it.)
Narrator: A big top tent is a perfect location for a touring circus, because it can be dismantled and moved from town to town. But circus can happen in lots of places, not just in big tops. Circus can be performed in theatres, on streets, or in more unusual places. Explore the photos to discover more of these places, and you can earn stars.
(Finally, Luza stands back up and enters the carpet roll as she tips it over her head. Her entire torso, from her waist to her head, is inside the carpet roll. Only her legs are visible. Unable to see anything, she bumps into the pole.)
Narrator: Big tops can be pretty amazing. Their shape is like no other, look at the lights, the tent poles- oops! Careful around the poles. They really do hold up the tent. Be careful or it might fall down on top of you!
(She lets the carpet drop down. Still standing in the centre of the roll, only her hands are visible. She finally pops out her head, proud of her achievement.)
Big Top
Credits: Jacob-William Collection, TOHU
Drawing of the Circus Alberti big top surrounded by circus wagons. A crowd is heading to the big top entrance.
“The circus is here! Come see the most amazing acrobats!” As soon as a circus sets up its big top, the festivities have begun.
A big top is a large tent held up by poles. It might have one or several rings as stages. For many traveling circuses, their tent is the main place where they welcome audiences.
Wagons often encircle the big top. They are used to transport all of the animals, artists, technicians, cooks and the entire circus crew.
All of these people live together.
Circus in Unusual Places
Credits: Jacob-William Collection, TOHU
Black and white photo from a high vantage point of a man balancing on a wire. The vehicles far below look like toys.
Look at this picture carefully. Where is this man and what is he doing?
That’s right. He’s walking on a wire in mid-air. He is at the very top of the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral.
Philippe Petit loves practising his discipline, tightrope walking, in unthinkable and prohibited places.
He believes the art of tightrope walking must remain free and visible for everyone. He doesn’t like being in a big top, preferring to set up his wire between famous monuments around the world. He takes lots of risks to delight the young and young at heart.
Permanent Circus
Credits: Jacob-William Collection, TOHU
Painted poster for the “Winter Circus” in Paris. In the foreground, a woman wearing a tutu and two horses appear to be welcoming a crowd of spectators on their way to the well-lit circus building.
Look at how many people are heading towards that big building! They are going to see the “Winter Circus” in Paris. Inaugurated in 1852, it’s the world’s oldest permanent circus building.
A “permanent circus” refers to a building that doesn’t move. Unlike a tent, it always stays in one place.
As you can see, this one is a round building, which is the perfect shape for a round circus stage.
Its great height is perfect for trapeze and other aerial acts. . It can hold 1600 audience members.
TOHU Permanent Circus
Photo: Karina Thevenin
Photo of the TOHU site. In the centre, the main building is circular and in different shades of grey. On the sides, the brown buildings are smaller and more ordinary.
Welcome to TOHU in Montréal! This circular venue was inspired by the permanent circus buildings of Europe. Like them, it cannot be moved.
However, TOHU’s round performance space can be configured in different ways. It can have a circular stage at the center, with audiences seated in risers around it. Or it can also be set up with a rectangular stage, with seating in rows, like in a theatre.
This performance hall is unique in North America. It can accommodate all of the circus disciplines, including the flying trapeze.
Street Circus
Photo: Rénald Laurin
Photo of a fair-skinned bare-chested man who is covered in paint. He is balancing on one leg on the wheel of his unicycle. He is performing in the street, with scaffolding in the background.
Wait! There’s no stage or theatre here. But this performer is definitely a circus acrobat.
That’s right. The circus arts can be performed in the street, too! Acrobats can balance and climb on objects they find around the city, like buildings, benches or bus stops.
Some set up their street show in a single spot, while others move through the streets as they perform acrobatics. Who knows? Maybe you’ll come across some artists in your city.
Raising the Vague de Cirque Big Top
Credits: TOHU
Imagine you‘re outdoors in Montréal, facing TOHU.
In the foreground, there is a large open space. Behind it, you see a line of trees, a small white tent and buildings.
In this time-lapse video, you see people in hard hats putting up a circus big top. First, they lift the masts, then they rig the cables. Then they attach the canvas, raise it with the cables and support it with poles.
The big top slowly takes shape. Watch how the people gather in front of the big top. There are women, men, and even a child.
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