Street Circus Weekend returns to Espoo

The hugely popular Street Circus Weekend will return to entertain people in Espoo for the second time on a weekend in August. Shows will be performed in Espoonlahti, Järvenperä, Tapiola, Leppävaara and Espoon keskus, and they are all free of charge. During the weekend, audiences will get to enjoy six different shows by Finnish circus artists. 

Marianne Vaalimaa will perform her captivating solo show ‘Circus for FunK!’ outside the Lippulaiva shopping centre in Espoonlahti on Saturday 9 August and at the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora in Järvenperä on Sunday 10 August. The show features freestyle jump rope and hula hoop tricks, surprising elements, and a tribute to the joy of the Finnish sauna. 

In addition to Finland, Marianne has performed in Germany, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Spain and Belgium. She got interested in circus activities as a child and, after graduating from general upper secondary school, she ended up in Rome where she was so impressed by the amazing street circus performances that she decided to become a circus artist herself. Marianne has learned her skills in the circus programme at the Arts Academy of the Turku University of Applied Sciences and as an instructor at a circus club organised with the help of a grant. 

“I came up with the idea for my show after graduating from circus school. I wanted to create my own street show, travel and perform,” Marianne says. 

She created the first version of the show in 2021. 

“Every year, I have developed the show and modified it so that people of all ages and nationalities can enjoy it,” she adds. 

Performing solo on the street comes naturally to Marianne. 

“Streets and other public spaces are the most fascinating venues for me. They always offer challenges and wonderful opportunities and surprises. When performing solo, I get to make all the decisions and freely follow my own impulses. However, getting volunteers involved is the most interesting and rewarding part of the show, because I don’t want to be on stage alone the whole time. I always do my best to give them a positive experience.” 

The show will now be seen in Espoo for the first time. 

Watch a video of Marianne’s circus show (YouTube) https://youtu.be/2DXSXyH3cH8(external link, opens in a new window)   

Espoonlahti is easy to reach by metro, and those going to the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora can take a bus from Leppävaara or the centre of Helsinki, for example. 

Two acrobats dancing on a unique mechanical horse will captivate the audience with their whirlwind show on the Espoo Cultural Centre’s outdoor stage in Tapiola on Saturday 9 August. Lumo Company’s hypnotic show ‘Indigo’ combines the artists’ equestrian vaulting background and acrobatic skills. On Sunday 10 August, the same stage will be taken over by Arctic Ensemble’s ‘Dish Soap Opera’, a collage of the lives of two circus performers in a six-square-metre mobile home. 

You can also enjoy street circus in the Exhibition Centre WeeGee’s new summer yard. On Saturday 9 August, Blind Gut Company’s ‘Viihdy! Viihdy! Viihdy!’ show will bring the jester tradition into the present day. They will offer performances by professional entertainers as well as content perfect for your social media. 

The Espoo Cultural Centre is easy to reach by taking the metro to the Tapiola station. WeeGee is located less than a kilometre from the Cultural Centre. 

On Saturday 9 August, ‘Metrilaku-menuetti’ by Säilättäret will take the audience to a colourful world that combines circus, comedy and classical music into a hilarious spectacle on Soittoniekanaukio, outside Sello Hall in Leppävaara. 

The street circus of the future is here! On Sunday 10 August, Virastopiha in Espoon keskus will host the explosive ‘TT-1000’ street circus show by Duo Color Express, featuring acrobatics on a gigantic exercise ball, teeterboard jumps, bouncing objects and a bit of colourful madness.  

Both Leppävaara and Espoon keskus are easy to reach by train from Helsinki and from the direction of Kirkkonummi. 

Check out the Street Circus Weekend programme: espoo.fi/en/yhtasirkusta