Perform at Zirkusquartier

Bild: Cia Bruta Bruja – Santa and Glitter (c) Mina Monsef

On stage at Zirkusquartier

We offer the opportunity to be on stage in various contexts in the Zirkusquartier: whether as a guest performance, at the regular Open Stage, at the annual ZirQus festival or the wagon variety show – in the circus wagon!

Guest performances

All artists with a finished piece can apply for a guest performance. Preference will be given to applications in the contemporary circus category.

We can invite 4 guest performances per year at the Zirkusquartier and are therefore very selective.

Application

You can apply for guest performances on an ongoing basis. For the application we need

  • a complete dossier
  • a technical rider
  • if possible a complete video of the show
  • and/or an invitation to a performance in Switzerland or a neighboring country

Here you can find information about the infrastructure.

Decisions

March – May we decide on the guest performances for the next fall/winter program

September – November we decide on the guest performances for the next spring/summer program

Open stage

The platform for short formats!

Not all good ideas are full-length and some simply have to be tried out in front of an audience. We turn the spotlights on you and a loving audience awaits your art. We offer the infrastructure for almost every circus discipline and you can enjoy a performance framed by the moderation duo Jamil & Migi.

The next Open Stage will take place on February 7. You can register with a contribution until January 23.
All genres are welcome! The only requirement: a contribution should last a maximum of 10 minutes. If there are many registrations, we reserve the right to give preference to circus-related contributions.
Write briefly about what you want to do, how long your contribution will be (maximum 10 minutes) and what you need technically.

Festival ZirQus

ZirQus – Festival for contemporary Swiss circus creations

The ZirQus festival is an important platform for Swiss companies, strengthens the network and acts as a meeting place for circus professionals. The festival brings together a broad audience with national and international companies to celebrate the diversity of the different forms of expression
and the shared experience in a circus-like atmosphere.

Application

All artists with a connection to Switzerland (place of residence, place of work, origin) can apply for the festival. The festival features open-air shows, street shows and stage plays.

For an application we need:

  • a complete dossier
  • a technical rider
  • if possible a complete video of the show
  • and/or an invitation to a performance in Switzerland or a neighboring country

The application deadline is December 15 for the following year’s festival.

Artist in Focus

Artist in Focus is a platform for up-and-coming circus artists during the ZirQus Festival. The selected artists do a 1-2 week residency and show a work-in-progress as part of the festival program.

Artists who have just graduated from circus school and have a connection to Switzerland (place of residence, place of work, origin) can apply for Artist in Focus.

The next call for applications for Artist in Focus will be published in February 2025. The application deadline is April 1.

Wagenvarieté

The Wagenvarieté invites you to an evening in a magical atmosphere, with a varied cabaret program on miniature stages – in circus wagons!

Open Call for Artists

Do you do cabaret, music, artistry or another performing art?

You show your art in the smallest of spaces – in a circus wagon – right in the heart of Zurich. If you are interested, please contact us with your idea and some image or video material about yourself. It is also possible to apply with an adaptation of an existing piece.

Date: 30. Nov & 01. Dec 2024 / 07. Dec & 08. Dec 2024
Length: approx. 15 min per piece

The next open call for Wagenvarieté will take place in spring 2025.