Catalonia is a powerhouse in what we have been calling contemporary circus, nourished and influenced by its neighbour, by THE world power, which is France, in this field. That’s where Animal Religion hails from with this delight for kiddies, indeed for children two years and older, although we all turn into kids a bit when the circus is in town, and with great pleasure. This delight is called …y las ideas vuelan, an innovative show where just a very few objects play leading roles and the little participative encounters with the young viewers lead to funny and entertaining scenes replete with complicity. These experiences are well accompanied by exquisite and stunning lights and music, something we would expect no less of from this company. It’s part of the experimentation the company has been implementing lately, made up of Quim Girón, Joana Serra and Joana Cot Ros, who seek the perfect combination of lighting, body and sound, with a circular ring and being close to the audience.

Animal Religion was started 10 years ago and have had almost one performance per year, although the pandemic forced them to slow down the pace, like what happened to everyone. They are very nonconformist and are always seeking new ways of working in the medium they know, questioning and seeking to never make any action the same. They also love the open possibilities of live shows, leaving room for improv and never having it all mapped out. In …y las ideas vuelan this is shown to the highest degree, because with an audience of 2- to 5-year-olds, it’s a big temptation to not let them participate and even dictate the time of each scene. They are obligated to put all their attention on what is happening, the pure present, and grab onto ideas as they fly by, playing with the title of the piece. Acrobatics, play, humour and music in the first work they have designed for children (which premiered at the Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona in 2019), which does not have – like with Ahir – an intellectual base, but a much more sensorial perspective.