Cirque Mechanics: Tilt

Experience amusement park thrills and circus mayhem when Cirque Mechanics comes to town. In Tilt!, this one-of-its kind company takes you on a journey to the back-lot of their inventive theme park, where in the shadow of the roller coaster and under the lights of the Ferris wheel, you’ll meet the carnies, characters and operators that keep the thrills coming and the rides running.

Cirque Mechanics, inspired by modern circus, finds its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of American industrial ingenuity, with a signature style that is wrapped in acrobatics, mechanical marvels and a bit of clowning around. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

About the Artists

In 1999, while working at Cirque du Soleil,  Chris Lashua and Aloysia Gavre began experiments using an innovative aerial apparatus. This apparatus combined Chris’ German Wheel with a set of rollers and winch which allowed for Aloysia’s hoop to be lifted by the rotation of the large wheel. This Trolley device was the inspiration for the development of other machines that would showcase the relationships between the acrobatic and mechanical worlds.

In 2004 , these machines became the center piece for a new theatrical work. Chris and Aloysia joined Sandra Feusi, Rex Camphuis, Sam Payne, and Steven Ragatz to work together on the creation of the 30th Anniversary production of the Pickle Family Circus which was produced by the Circus Center of San Francisco. This year end show which would become Birdhouse Factory was their first collaborative effort. This focus on these original contraptions, in addition to story telling, and high level acrobatics has remained the heart of what Cirque Mechanics do.

Learn more about Cirque Mechanics on their website.