Tall Tales Company invites you to the first virtual circus performance delivered as an interactive home experience.
Three jugglers, a visual artist and a warm poetic voice will take you on a tour of your own home. Guided from space to space, reminiscing on the beautiful memories you find there, this magical experience will leave you seeing your home in a completely new light.
Square 2.1 is a new version of the performance Square Two, which we had planned to tour internationally in 2020. The project is the result of two years of research by visual artist Don Satijn and the jugglers of Tall Tales Company, gathered together in a series of short, enchanting scenes that take inspiration from the patterns of nature and our daily lives.
Ready for circus in your living room?
Tall Tales Company creates visual circus performances in which object manipulation and acrobatics are used to tell stories. With a fascination for human nature, the company presents accessible performances with multiple layers: magical, with risk and a touch of humor.
Tall Tales was founded in 2012 by Harm van der Laan and Maartje Bonarius. Their collaboration already originated at the circus school Codarts Rotterdam where they specialized themselves in aerial works (Maartje) object manipulation (Harm) and partner acrobatics (together).
After a brief additional study in Toulouse, the duo decided to return to Rotterdam, their hometown. From this base they want the Netherlands to get acquainted with circus as an art form.
Under the leadership of theatre maker / dramatist Luc van Esch, they created Weg (2013), an acrobatic and poetic theatre performance about a couple trapped in a relationship. After this experience, they acquired a taste for creating performances and, together with Luc van Esch, they created Solo (2013), a piece about the (im)possibilities of romantic love and Langs (2017) a theatre performance about loneliness with juggling, (air) acrobatics, magic, dance and theatre.
In between, Harm and Maartje created together the performance Turbulence (2015) a family piece about a pilot and a stewardess who are going to fly without an airplane.
In One of these Days (2018), the makers duo opted for a more choreographic approach.
Together with Thomas Falk, they created a performance in which, for the first time, they also enter the stage with four performers.
In 2019, Bonarius and Van der Laan were the second circus theatre makers ever in Dutch history selected for the ‘new makers arrangement’ of the Dutch Fund for the Performing Arts.
Square Two (2020) is the first show to be created and played entirely by Tall Tales Company. A site specific performance in which juggling patterns and visual art merge.
| Concept, direction | Maartje Bonarius & Harm van der Laan | |
| Jugglers | Joris de Jong, Maartje Bonarius, Harm van der Laan | |
| Visual Artist | Don Satijn | |
| Dramaturgy | Luc van Esch | |
| External Eye | Sean Gandini | |
| Music & voice | Jasper Boeke | |
| Text | Mischa Andriessen | |
| Camera & Montage | Piet van Steen | |
| Photography | Megin Zondervan | |
| Website & design | Niels de Vries | |
| Production | Rosalie Witte | |
| Diffusion & Marketing | HH Producties, Huub Heye & Tanja Ruiter |
Co-production
Rotterdam Circusstad
With support of
Fonds Podiumkunsten, BNG Cultuurfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Gemeente Rotterdam, Norma Fonds, Mr. August Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht, CBK Rotterdam
Residencies
Universität Münster, Maison des Jonglages, Atelier Blanchefosse, Sea Change Arts, Circus Studio Rotterdam, Zirkus-Wissenschaft
