Audition HEBBES

©Ayla Maagdenberg

2 circus artist (m/f/x)

For the new show HEBBES ('GOT IT' in English), a co-production with music collective Frisse Oren, director Laura van Hal and Anneke Wensink are looking for two circus artists. All circus disciplines (except aerial techniques) can apply!

Audition will take place on the 9th of October 2022, 10:00- 18:00 o’clock in Rotterdam.

The show HEBBES will have two versions; a festival version that will tour during spring and summer 2023. And an indoor version for theaters that will tour both Dutch and Belgian theaters in winter/spring 2024. We are looking for a duo to do the whole project, so both the festival and the theater version.

HEBBES will be a creation between a acrobatic duo and 2 musicians from Frisse Oren (Marieke Franssen: flute and piccolo | Joost van Genugten: tuba). Music will be composted by Arthur Wagenaar. HEBBES is a acrobatic music show for everybody between the age of 4 and 104 years old. The festival version will be 30 minutes and the theater version 50 minutes.


About WIRWAR Producties

Laura van Hal is artistic leader and director of WIRWAR Producties, a Dutch-based company that creates contemporary circus theater for a young audience. You might have seen her previous work 'BONJE', 'WIRWAR' or, 'VLIEG OP!' and 'LEF!' with STIP productions. She also directed 'LOOP' and 'NET' by TENT Circustheater Productions.

About Frisse Oren

Anneke Wensink is astistic leader or Frisse Oren, a Dutch-based music collective that creates music shows for children between the age of 0,5 and 6 years old. Frisse oren creates poetic and unruly music performances that touch both children and (grand)parents, on an aesthetic, substantive and emotional level. Previous shows where 'Luna', 'Stapel', 'Strek', 'Herrie in de tent' and many more.

Both WIRWAR Producties and Frisse oren create wordless shows using physical theater. From 2021 till 2024 both companies receive four year funding from Fonds Podiumkunsten (Dutch government funding).


About the show
HEBBES (4-104),
About the certainty of holding on and the adventure of letting go

Do you know that? That you lost something and don't know where you left it? And do you sometimes have the feeling that you have lost something, but you don't know what? That it seemed like you had something, like you could hold it, yet it slipped through your fingers?

HEBBES is wordless, unique and spectacular physical theater for everyone from 4 to 104 years. Two acrobats from circus theater company WIRWAR Productions and two musicians from music theater collective Frisse Oren join forces for this acrobatic musical performance. About the certainty of holding on and the adventure of letting go.


Planning

Festival version

Rehearsals* (20 days)

  • 26, 27, 28 February 2023
  • 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 March 2023
  • 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 April 2023

Dates for the rehearsals of the festival version are fixed already.

Tour period festival version:

  • try-outs: 9 till 16 of April (options)
  • April till September 2023
  • Aiming for 15 to 25 shows.
  • Availability will be checked, but we ask for a commitment to this project.
  • We might tour again with the festival version in summer 2024.

Theater version

Rehearsals* (20 to 30 days)

  • Fall 2023
  • Winter 2024

Exact dates for the rehearsals of the theater version will be chosen in consultation with performers and are dependent on studio availability.

Tour period theater version:

  • February till half of May 2024
  • Aiming for 20 to 30 shows
  • Artists have to block the whole theater tour periode (Feb- half of May 2024), until the playlist is final in September 2023.


*Rehearsals will take place in region Amsterdam.


Payment, contract and insurance
  • Rehearsals and shows are paid according to the CAO Theatre and Dance (Dutch collective labour agreement)
  • acrobats will get a freelance contract with the company
  • acrobats must have a AVB verzekering/liability insurance and hand in the insurance policy when signing the contract.
No pied-a-terre

The company doesn't have a pied-a-terre, but within the limits of our budget we will look for an appropriate solution or compensation. Foreign circus artists are expected to find housing in the Netherlands themselves. Travel cost will only be paid to travel to The Netherlands at the beginning and end of the rehearsal/tour blocks and within The Netherlands.


Function description

Creation period

During the rehearsal period the director, in cooperation with the performers, will develop an acrobatic/circus music show. The material for the show is created through physical theater and dance exercises as well as acrobatic/circus movement and music research.

Tour period

After the premiere, the show will tour Dutch and Belgian festivals in spring/summer 2023 and theaters in The Netherlands and Belgium in winter/spring 2024. This tour will include 'public performances' for families and 'closed performances' for elementary pupils. The festival version will be performed twice a day, as well as the theater version when performing for schools. It's common to have your first show at 10:30 in the morning. During the tour there will be a lot of travelling around the country. The company does not provide housing for foreign acrobats during the tour. Only when you perform school shows in Belgium you have an overnight stay in a hotel.

Requirements

  • Graduate or intern from an official circus school.

  • All circus disciplines (except aerial) are welcome to try-out for the audition.

  • High level of experience in both dance and physical theatre.

  • Affinity with performing for children from age 4 and up.

  • Motivated to use the craftsmanship of circus and to think outside the (circus) box, to create an imaginative storytelling performance by combining physical theatre and circus techniques as starting points, to come to an acrobatic/circus music show.

  • Experience in giving circus workshops to children is an advantage.

  • Living in the Netherlands or willing to base here during both the rehearsal- and tour periods. Applicants must live within a maximum range of 300 km from Amsterdam (NL) due to our limited budget!

  • A good command of the English language.

  • Curious to work with musicians that don't have a circus backround.

  • Playing an instrument or singing would be a great addition to the show, but is not a must!


Extra information

Giving workshops

Along with the performance, an educational project will be created. Performers could be asked to give simple circus workshops for elementary school children and/or in theaters after a 'public performance'. These activities will be paid for separately from the show-fee.

Questions?

For questions send an email to info@wirwarproducties.nl or call Laura van Hal, +31(0)6-44838986

How to sign in for the audition?

Solo artists and duo's can apply.

Before the 1st of October 2022 send your CV with photo, videos and a motivational letter describing why you want to be in this show to info@wirwarproducties.nl

Audition by invitation only!

When you are invited to the audition, there is no need to prepare any material up front. In a workshop environment we will work on movement- , physical theatre- and acrobatic/circus assignments, along with music exercises, to explore your talents.