Sandscapes
A hand-drawn, ephemeral performance about the nature of miracles, circles, and time
Ueli Hirzel (CH)
| Date: | Fr 13.11.2026 |
| Doors: | 17:00 |
| Time: | 18:00 |
| Location: | ZQ-Bühne |
| Price: | CHF 35.– / 25.– / 15.– |
| Duration: | 55 minutes |
| Age: | From 10 years |
| Language: | Fri: DE-CH / Sat: EN |
Other dates:
A black circle. A pendulum traces a delicate spiral in white sand. Movement creates patterns, and the patterns become images. The images intertwine, one layering over another: disappearance and emergence. The circle echoes the circus ring, where danger and vulnerability are real. Nothing can be hidden. Everything is there.
A long time ago, Ueli Hirzel was a circus acrobat—more precisely, a tightrope walker. He later moved behind the scenes and, at his Château de Monthelon in France, created a space of freedom for emerging artists. With Hirzel’s support, numerous influential and groundbreaking productions outside the mainstream came into being.
Today, Ueli Hirzel no longer performs great feats of acrobatics when he steps onto the stage. Instead, he brings along a few brooms and offers us something like the essence of circus life—or perhaps of life itself. One might call it the radical wisdom of old age, even though Hirzel seems anything but old as he reflects, with both himself and the audience, on what it all means.
– Ursula Huber
The performance will take place on Friday, November 13, in Swiss German, and on Saturday, November 14, in English.
10 Years of Zirkusquartier at the Nuit du Cirque
Program
Friday, November 13
| 6:00 p.m. | Sandscapes – Ueli Hirzel (CH) |
| 8:00 p.m. | Dark Glowing – Laurence Felber, Silvan Strübel, Caroline Schenk (CH) |
Saturday, November 14
| 7:00 p.m. | Sandscapes – Ueli Hirzel (CH) |
| 9:00 p.m. | Dark Glowing – Laurence Felber, Silvan Strübel, Caroline Schenk (CH) |
| 10:00 p.m. | A Party with Circus-Themed Surprises |
During the Nuit du Cirque on November 13 and 14, 2026, the Zirkusquartier will celebrate its 10th anniversary—with a colorful program!
There are two circus shows to see: Sandscapes by Ueli Hirzel and Dark Glowing by Laurence Felber, Silvan Strübel, and Caroline Schenk. Drinks will be available at the bar, wraps from the Zirkus Chnopffood stand, and on Saturday, a festive circus night with party and surprises—come celebrate the anniversary weekend with us!
Trailer
Company
Ueli Hirzel
Ueli Hirzel is a Swiss circus artist, director, producer, and pioneer. With his circus troupes and productions (including Varieté Zirkus Aladin and Cirque O), he toured between 1979 and 2018, performing internationally in various cities and at renowned festivals, including multiple appearances at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel. In 2023, he premiered his solo performance *Sandscapes* as part of the *cirqu’* festival in Aarau. In 1989, he founded the multidisciplinary residency Château Monthelon in the French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Through his work, Ueli Hirzel helped shape the New Circus movement. In 2024, Hirzel was awarded the Swiss Prize for the Performing Arts by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK) in recognition of his body of work.
Credits
| Artistic Direction and Performance | Ueli Hirzel |
| External eyes | Paula Riquelme – Orbenes |
| Technology and Consulting | Tim and Daniel Ott |
| Costume | Ranka Delic |
Audience information
Accessibility
The Zirkusquartier is wheelchair accessible. You can find more information here.
Awareness
To ensure that everyone feels comfortable at the Zirkusquartier, we ask that you interact with others in a mindful and considerate manner. The Zirkusquartier opposes all forms of discrimination. You can find more information about Awareness here.
Tickets
We offer flexible ticket prices: You can choose between the Solidarity Price (35.00 CHF), the Standard Price (25.00 CHF), and the Budget Price (15.00 CHF).
Ticket corner
The box office opens 1 hour before the performance begins. Payment in cash or twint.
Free Entry
Children under the age of 5, persons accompanying visitors with disabilities, persons with residence permits S, N, F and others do not pay admission.
Free choice of seats
Please be there 10 minutes in advance. There is free seating for all three ticket prices.
Age
Please note the age information.
Bar service
The bar is open one hour before and after the show.
Parking
There are no parking spaces available on the premises.
This production is supported by:
