SHIFT
What if children were put in charge of the world?
In SHIFT, six children between the ages of eight and twelve take matters into their own hands. They enter a world that initially offers stability, but slowly begins to shift, tilt, and fall apart. What seemed safe becomes unpredictable. Walls move, structures waver… and suddenly you have to choose: go with the flow or hold it back?
Using their bodies, imagination, and playfulness, the children take on the challenge. They climb, push, fall, and catch each other. They seek new ways to move forward, together and alone. Not through grand gestures, but through small interventions that have increasingly greater consequences.
SHIFT is a dazzling, hopeful circus and dance performance in which the set design becomes an active counterpart, constantly compelling the performers to take action. The result is a physical, thrilling, and moving journey centered on risk, trust, and play. This isn’t just a pipe dream. It’s happening right now.
Circographer Piet Van Dycke has worked with performers of different generations: from the young people of fABULEUS in Beyond the Edge to the older acrobats of GLORIOUS BODIES. With SHIFT, he works with children aged 8 to 12 for the first time.
Premiere on the 8th October 2027 in hetpaleis, Antwerp
Credits
Concept, choreography: Piet Van Dycke
Performers: six kids between 8-12 years old
Acrobatic support: Lobke Janssens for Ell Circo D’ell Fuego
Music: Wouter de Belder
Dramaturgy: Marie Peeters & Koen Haagdorens
Technical design & building installation: Arjan Kruidhof & Arjen Schoneveld
Stage manager: Joram Demeyer
Execution of scenary: tbd.
Costume design: tbd.
Costume execution: tbd.
Lighting design: Stef Stessel
Sound design: tbd.
Scenary research: Oona Sauwens
Production management: Sam Cunningham & Jenne Van Daele
Childcare support: tbd.
Preliminary research: tbd.
Production: hetpaleis & Circumstances
Coproduction: Ell Circo D’ell Fuego
With support from: de taxsheltermaatregel van de Belgische Federale Overheid via Gallop Tax Shelter
Quotes
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