CIRKOBALKANA 13 : MANIPULATIONS
May 31 – June 8, 2025
Pogon Jedinstvo (Big Hall) & CirkoBalkana Circus Tent, Trnjanska struga 34, Zagreb
In the third year of the new concept for the Zagreb edition of the festival—choosing a shared focus for the selected performances—CirkoBalkana will center around object manipulation and juggling, with this year’s festival subtitle being Manipulations.
In this edition, manipulation is elevated to the level of artistic rapture.
This is not a story about the games of power in politics and media, but about virtuosos who, through dedication and daily refinement, transform ordinary props into poetic instruments of wonder. Their work is real, and their manipulation doesn’t imprison the mind, but frees it, leading us into a state of deep admiration and unique joy.
Some of the biggest names in contemporary juggling and object manipulation are coming to Zagreb, and as every year, the organizers have prepared a range of accompanying activities for all ages and interests..
MAIN PROGRAM – with musical line-up:
May 31 SATURDAY
19:00 Pogon Jedinstvo – Les Véloçimanes Associés (BE): Der Lauf
20:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – DJ Bangavi
21:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Šarijanata
June 1 SUNDAY
11:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Cirkusfera (RS): Lo Ptice
19:00 Pogon Jedinstvo – Les Véloçimanes Associés (BE): Der Lauf
20:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – Barabadub Dino & Chakka Svraka DJ duo
June 2 MONDAY
20:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Domagoj Šoić (CRO): Hollows and Empties
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – Frikrok Party by DJ Kornel
June 3 TUESDAY
20:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Cie LPM (FR): Petroleo
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – DJ Stankoff
June 4 WEDNESDAY
19:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Circus Cinema: Jump Out (film + talk with cinematographer)
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – DJ Belly Full
June 5 THURSDAY
20:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Mismo Nismo (SLO): Juggling Concert
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – DJ Labud
June 6 FRIDAY
20:00 Pogon Jedinstvo – Darragh McLoughlin (IR): Stickman
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – Garmisch & Partenkirchen DJ duo
June 7 SATURDAY
16:00 Sava embankment and Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – Cirkolympics
20:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Wes Peden (FR/USA): Rollercoaster
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – Plišane Gljive DJ duo
June 8 SUNDAY
19:00 CirkoBalkana tent – Open Stage
21:00 Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo – DJ Venom in the Plum Orchard
ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM
May 30 – June 8 Gallery MERCEDES – Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo
Johan Swartvagher & Agathe Dumont (FR): En Finir, radiophonic exhibition
June 6–8 – Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo
Komikaze (HR): Exquisite Corpse, XXL exhibition and workshop
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
June 3 & 4, 11:00–14:00 – Pogon Jedinstvo
Dramaturgy Tricks: tools to make your shit more coherent
by Darragh McLoughlin (IR)
June 6 – Yard of Pogon Jedinstvo
Fun/Contemporary Ball Juggling with Wes Peden
CirkoBalkana 13: Manipulations is co-financed by: City of Zagreb – Department for Culture and Civil Society, Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Kultura Nova Foundation, French Institute in Paris, Teatroskop, Wallonie–Bruxelles International.be, Culture Ireland, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Croatia.
Sponsor of Cirkolympics:
PLAY juggling
Food donations:
Annapurna, Vesela Motika, Pekinška Patka, Biomara, Vedrini
Visual Design:
Marin Remić / Smak Press
Graphic Design:
Ruta
Organized by
Cirkorama (Zagreb) & Cirkusfera (Belgrade) in collaboration with Pogon – Zagreb Center for Independent Culture and Youth and The Komikaze Collective