After 15 years of journey and evolution, we find ourselves, once again, with the excitement, emotion and enthusiasm of undertaking a new creation project. Each time we create we face new challenges, especially at this moment of social change that encourages us to take on new responsibilities, both as people and artists.
Secrets is a creation project for a contemporary indoor circus for five acrobats that will premiere in the Spring/Summer of 2026.
In this project we will question ourselves about the passage of time and the transformations that it causes, and about the possible reactions that we can find as human beings to a hypothetical countdown to the end.
What would we ask of our last shooting star?
The common denominator of our creations is to place human relationships at the centre of each project (CAPAS => family relationships, inTarsi => individual vs collective relationships, Espera => relationship between artist and audience, La Pranza! => collective rituals, NUYE => couple/duo/partner and relationship with “the other”, La Piedra de Madera => intergenerational relationships).
Within Secrets we will question the passage of time and the transformations that it causes, both on an artistic and professional level, that is, as acrobats, and also as on a personal level, as people who are experiencing a moment of big social change and of continued crises (climate emergency, wars, pandemics…).
As circus artists, we feel that we are constantly faced with the need to renew our acrobatic language and adapt it to our bodies, to the main events that marked our lives. On the other hand, we feel that we are approaching the need to change our practices as citizens to respect our society and our planet more, and if not heal it, at least try to reduce the effects of our impact on it.
We find it stimulating to take a moment of reflection on this possible countdown that we are experiencing, and to see how we can generate a restorative response through art and imagination.
ORIGINAL CONCEPTION
Compañía de Circo “eia”
DIRECTION
Francesca Lissia
DRAMATURGY
Francesca Lissia, Fabrizio Giannini, Armando Rabanera Muro
CREATION AND INTERPRETATION
Fabrizio Giannini, Cèlia Marcé Oller, Maria Palma Borràs, Armando Rabanera Muro, Manel Rosés Moretó
CHOREOGRAPHY
Michelle Man
SUPPORT IN DRAMATURGICAL WRITING
Roberto Magro
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Cristiano i Davide Della Monica
LIGHTING DESIGN
Thomas Bourreau
SCENOGRAPHY
Compañía de Circo “eia”, Oscar de Paz
COSTUME
Rosa Solé
ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS
Piet Van Cycke, other collaborations tbc
PHOTOGRAPHY
Natacha Elmir
PRODUCTION
Compañía de Circo “eia”
CO-PRODUCTIONS AND RESIDENCIES (in progress)
GREC Festival – Barcelona, Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Festival Temporada Alta, El Canal – Performing Arts Creation Centre Salt/Girona, UP! Circus and Performing Arts (BEL), Theater op de Markt – Dommelhof (BEL), La Maison/Nevers – Scène conventionnée Arts en territoire (FRA), Teatre Tarragona, La Cigalière Sérignan (FRA), Archaos Pôle National Cirque Marseille (FRA), Fira Trapezi Reus, La Grainerie – Scène conventionnée d’intérêt national et Center européen de production (FRA), Flic Scuola di Circo di Torino (ITA), Teatre L’Artesà – El Prat de Llobregat, Teatro Cervantes – Arnedo, La Central del Circ, L’Estruch Centre de creació de les arts en viu – Sabadell.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
INAEM – Ministry of Culture of Spanish Government, Catalan Arts ICEC – Catalan Institute for Cultural Industries, Ramon Llull Institute – Catalan language and Culture
ARTISTIC TEAM
Fabrizio Giannini
Naples (Italy), 1979
Graduated from the Carampa Circus School in Madrid where he specialised in hand-to-hand acrobatics and banquine with Armando Rabanera. Diploma in Physical Education at the ISEF of Naples. Founder of the companies, Cirque Vague, and Circo de la Sombra. In 2009 he began a new adventure with the creation of Compañía de Circo “eia”, of which he is co-artistic director and responsible for the international touring of the indoor shows.
Cèlia Marcé Oller
Sant Pere de Ribes, 1991
She began her professional training at the Rogelio Rivel Circus School (ECRR) in Barcelona, specialising in fixed trapeze. She continues her training with artistic creation and fixed trapeze technique, workshops with professionals and schools between Barcelona and Toulouse (France). In 2019 she began the creation of her first piece, ”Nus”, a fixed trapeze and hoist solo. In 2022 she entered the FOCON program at ESACTO Lido de Toulouse to develop the project. Currently, she tours “Nus” performances, and in various European circus project events in France.
Maria Palma Borràs
Barcelona, 1987
Multidisciplinary artist, music lover, student at the artistic school Massana, former synchronized swimmer and graduate in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (2012). In 2013 she began her career in circus arts at the Rogelio Rivel Circus School (ECRR) in Barcelona, and subsequently at Codarts University of Circus Arts (Rotterdam), where she specialized in acrobatic hand to hand acrobatics and mini teeterboard, and where she co-founded the company Madame Gaüc. Currently, she is working on her first solo project, “La veu submergida”, in which she is committed to the fusion of disciplines as a way to promote innovation and research into new languages.
Armando Rabanera Muro
Arnedo (La Rioja), 1978
Graduated from the Carampa Circus School in Madrid where he specialised in hand-to-hand acrobatics and banquine with Fabrizio Giannini. Trained at RESAD in Madrid in gestural theater. Founder of the companies Cirque Vague, and Circo de la Sombra. In 2009 he began a new adventure with the creation of Compañía de Circo “eia”, of which he is co-artistic director, general manager and tour-manager of the indoor shows.
Manel Rosés Moretó
Barcelona, 1987
He began his circus studies at the ECRR in Barcelona. In 2010 he graduated with honors from DOCH, Stockholm University of Circus and Dance (Sweden), where he specialized in teeterboard and hand-to-hand acrobatics. In 2008 he created the Balagans company, with which he won the Gold Medal at the Festival du Cirque de Demain in Paris, for his teeterboard number in 2011. In 2014 he joined Compañía de Circo “eia” for the creation of inTarsi, with whom he was on tour until July 2022. In 2016, together with Nilas Kronlid, he created Soon Circus Company and the show, “Gregaris”. He is currently working on his first solo, “Ákri”.
CREATIVE TEAM
Francesca Lissia
Direction and dramaturgy
After her time at the Carampa circus school in Madrid, where she met her traveling companion, Celso Pereira, she went to Northern Europe where she graduated with honors from DOCH, the Stockholm University of Circus and Dance. There she specialised in hand-to- hand acrobatics, mini- teeterboard and horizontal bar. With Celso, she created the Cía Celso y Frana and the show, “Here Begins the Story”. In 2009 they created Compañía de Circo “eia”, together with Fabrizio and Armando. She is their co-artistic director and is responsible for the street shows, Espera and La Piedra de Madera.
Michelle Man
Choreography
Since 1989 she has worked as a dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. She is founder of the company Michelle Man and Friends, where she collaborates with composers, designers, architects, and singers. After having led the choreographic direction of the Carampa Circus School in Madrid, she returned to England where she works as a dance lecturer at Edge Hill University. She has a Master’s degree in Performance Making and she is the author of the doctoral thesis, “Light and the Choreographic: Dancing with Tungsten” (2024). She has been the choreographer of all the creations of Compañía de Circo “eia” and continues to work on international circus projects.
Cristiano and Davide Della Monica
Musical direction
They are specialized in singing, percussion, guitar and bass. Founders of the musical collective La Mescla, settled in Naples. In 2006 they approached the world of the circus with the musical direction of the Circo de la Sombra and in 2010 they became part of Compañía de Circo “eia”. They are responsible for the creation and musical direction of the shows CAPAS (in which Cristiano performed the music live), inTarsi, Espera (as collaborators) and NUYE.
Thomas Bourreau
Lighting creation and direction
Ancient juggler, trained in techniques of production and diffusion of amplified music. For 20 years, he has illuminated projects, often related to the new aesthetics of current circus and music. He has collaborated, among others, with Cirkus Cirkör, Le Cirque Désaccordé, Les Colporteurs. In 2020 he joined the team of Compañía de Circo “eia” to light the creation of NUYE.
Rosa Solé
Costumes
In 1986 she entered in the world of professional costume working for film, television and theater. She co-founded a sewing workshop called Maravillas (1997). Since 2013 she has been the coordinator of the tailoring department of the National Theater of Catalonia (TNC). In 2020, she founded her own atelier, La nena de la perla, from which she has created costumes for shows by companies such as Monti&Cia, La Fura dels Baus, Cía Marta Carrasco, Tricicle, Teatro Circo Price and Circo Italiano, among others.
Roberto Magro
Support at dramaturgical writing
Founder of the Rital Brocante company and the Brocante Festival, he was the artistic director of the Flic Circus School in Torino from 2005 to 2011. He has been artistic director of La Central del Circ, Circus Creation Factory of Barcelona, from 2012 to 2015. He is currently artistic director of ICCAR – International Center for Circus Artistic Research in Mallorca, and collaborates with different schools, artists, and companies as a director and playwright, in addition to dedicating himself to projects of his own creation.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Fabrizio Giannini
Naples (Italy), 1979
Graduated from the Carampa Circus School in Madrid where he specialised in hand-to-hand acrobatics and banquine with Armando Rabanera. Diploma in Physical Education at the ISEF of Naples. Founder of the companies, Cirque Vague, and Circo de la Sombra. In 2009 he began a new adventure with the creation of Compañía de Circo “eia”, of which he is co-artistic director and responsible for the international touring of the indoor shows.
Cèlia Marcé Oller
Sant Pere de Ribes, 1991
She began her professional training at the Rogelio Rivel Circus School (ECRR) in Barcelona, specialising in fixed trapeze. She continues her training with artistic creation and fixed trapeze technique, workshops with professionals and schools between Barcelona and Toulouse (France). In 2019 she began the creation of her first piece, ”Nus”, a fixed trapeze and hoist solo. In 2022 she entered the FOCON program at ESACTO Lido de Toulouse to develop the project. Currently, she tours “Nus” performances, and in various European circus project events in France.
Maria Palma Borràs
Barcelona, 1987
Multidisciplinary artist, music lover, student at the artistic school Massana, former synchronized swimmer and graduate in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (2012). In 2013 she began her career in circus arts at the Rogelio Rivel Circus School (ECRR) in Barcelona, and subsequently at Codarts University of Circus Arts (Rotterdam), where she specialized in acrobatic hand to hand acrobatics and mini teeterboard, and where she co-founded the company Madame Gaüc. Currently, she is working on her first solo project, “La veu submergida”, in which she is committed to the fusion of disciplines as a way to promote innovation and research into new languages.
Armando Rabanera Muro
Arnedo (La Rioja), 1978
Graduated from the Carampa Circus School in Madrid where he specialised in hand-to-hand acrobatics and banquine with Fabrizio Giannini. Trained at RESAD in Madrid in gestural theater. Founder of the companies Cirque Vague, and Circo de la Sombra. In 2009 he began a new adventure with the creation of Compañía de Circo “eia”, of which he is co-artistic director, general manager and tour-manager of the indoor shows.
Manel Rosés Moretó
Barcelona, 1987
He began his circus studies at the ECRR in Barcelona. In 2010 he graduated with honors from DOCH, Stockholm University of Circus and Dance (Sweden), where he specialized in teeterboard and hand-to-hand acrobatics. In 2008 he created the Balagans company, with which he won the Gold Medal at the Festival du Cirque de Demain in Paris, for his teeterboard number in 2011. In 2014 he joined Compañía de Circo “eia” for the creation of inTarsi, with whom he was on tour until July 2022. In 2016, together with Nilas Kronlid, he created Soon Circus Company and the show, “Gregaris”. He is currently working on his first solo, “Ákri”.
CREATIVE TEAM
Francesca Lissia
Direction and dramaturgy
After her time at the Carampa circus school in Madrid, where she met her traveling companion, Celso Pereira, she went to Northern Europe where she graduated with honors from DOCH, the Stockholm University of Circus and Dance. There she specialised in hand-to- hand acrobatics, mini- teeterboard and horizontal bar. With Celso, she created the Cía Celso y Frana and the show, “Here Begins the Story”. In 2009 they created Compañía de Circo “eia”, together with Fabrizio and Armando. She is their co-artistic director and is responsible for the street shows, Espera and La Piedra de Madera.
Michelle Man
Choreography
Since 1989 she has worked as a dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. She is founder of the company Michelle Man and Friends, where she collaborates with composers, designers, architects, and singers. After having led the choreographic direction of the Carampa Circus School in Madrid, she returned to England where she works as a dance lecturer at Edge Hill University. She has a Master’s degree in Performance Making and she is the author of the doctoral thesis, “Light and the Choreographic: Dancing with Tungsten” (2024). She has been the choreographer of all the creations of Compañía de Circo “eia” and continues to work on international circus projects.
Cristiano and Davide Della Monica
Musical direction
They are specialized in singing, percussion, guitar and bass. Founders of the musical collective La Mescla, settled in Naples. In 2006 they approached the world of the circus with the musical direction of the Circo de la Sombra and in 2010 they became part of Compañía de Circo “eia”. They are responsible for the creation and musical direction of the shows CAPAS (in which Cristiano performed the music live), inTarsi, Espera (as collaborators) and NUYE.
Thomas Bourreau
Lighting creation and direction
Ancient juggler, trained in techniques of production and diffusion of amplified music. For 20 years, he has illuminated projects, often related to the new aesthetics of current circus and music. He has collaborated, among others, with Cirkus Cirkör, Le Cirque Désaccordé, Les Colporteurs. In 2020 he joined the team of Compañía de Circo “eia” to light the creation of NUYE.
Rosa Solé
Costumes
In 1986 she entered in the world of professional costume working for film, television and theater. She co-founded a sewing workshop called Maravillas (1997). Since 2013 she has been the coordinator of the tailoring department of the National Theater of Catalonia (TNC). In 2020, she founded her own atelier, La nena de la perla, from which she has created costumes for shows by companies such as Monti&Cia, La Fura dels Baus, Cía Marta Carrasco, Tricicle, Teatro Circo Price and Circo Italiano, among others.
Roberto Magro
Support at dramaturgical writing
Founder of the Rital Brocante company and the Brocante Festival, he was the artistic director of the Flic Circus School in Torino from 2005 to 2011. He has been artistic director of La Central del Circ, Circus Creation Factory of Barcelona, from 2012 to 2015. He is currently artistic director of ICCAR – International Center for Circus Artistic Research in Mallorca, and collaborates with different schools, artists, and companies as a director and playwright, in addition to dedicating himself to projects of his own creation.
“El ritme de les acrobàcies, una escenografia que esdevé peça clau de l’escenificació i la diligència en les transicions són, clarament, marca de la casa.” Jaume Forés Juliana, Núvol
“A NUYE, la frontera que separa l’art i la vida desapareix màgicament. Tot aquí surt de dins dels seus intèrprets.” L.M. Ágreda, La Tribuna de Valladolid
“El que fa la Companyia de Circ “eia” és tan poètic, màgic i sentimental que s’han convertit en un must.” Norman Marsà, En Platea
“La Companyia de Circ “eia” ha construït una nova coreografia d’acrobàcies màgica. NUYE confirma el pas de solidesa d’inTarsi, d’ara ja fa cinc anys, i de CAPAS”. Jordi Bordes, El Punt Avui
“NUYE és una obra en el millor sentit de la paraula””. Haubentaucher
“”eia” es perfila com un dels col·lectius catalans de circ més innovadors del moment, destacant per anteposar a les acrobàcies la sensibilitat i les emocions, l’experiència humana en definitiva”. Omar Qhan, SusyQ
Amb la voluntat d’apropar el públic als llenguatges del circ contemporani, la Companyia ofereix la possibilitat d’organitzar activitats de creació de públics, pedagògiques i de mediació, adequades per a cada equipament i estructura d’acollida.
UPCOMING RESIDENCIES
2025
JANUARY
17th to 2nd February – Research residency, La Central del Circ, Barcelona
FEBRUARY
17th to 27th – Research residency, El Canal, Salt
APRIL
14th to 25th – Research residency, La Grainerie, Balma, France
MAY
5th to 14th – Research residency, La Central del Circ, Barcelona
JUNE
3rd to 13th – Research residency, L’Estruch, Sabadell
PAST RESIDENCES
JANUARY
7th to 17th – Research residency, La Central del Circ, Barcelona
JANUARY
19th to 21st – Dossier writing residency, Barcelona
JUNE
25th to 29th – First sessions of physical work and elaboration of mediation actions, La Central del Circ, Barcelona
OCTOBER
28th to 16th November – First research residency, UP! Circus & Performing arts, Brussels, Belgium
With the support of:
With the support of:
