Cirque Infernal’s Cirque Infernal’s theatrical circus tale Mortalès, will show at the Mandela Stage of the Joburg Theatre from 6 to 23 September 2018. The show has shocked and astounded audiences around the world.
Celeste Bliss and François Colarusso
C
irque Infernal was created by Danny Varanne in
Varanne maintained the daredevil show, realising almost
the mid-1990s. A gothic lover who grew up in
all of his dreams. In 2012, he received two awards at the
the entertainment world, Varanne developed his
prestigious Festival International Du Cirque De Monte-Carlo,
appreciation for visual arts from his favourite
and an official Guinness World Record. After this, it was time
movies, circus stories, and personal experiences. He put
for something new, the development of his oldest and fondest
all of these elements into a blender, and Cirque Infernal
dream: Cirque Infernal. Having spent two years searching
was created.
around the world for the artists to work with on his project,
Born and raised in a traditional family of travelling performers, Varanne started as a showman at a very young age in his parents’ burlesque theatre. Then, with his
Varanne is now ready to present Cirque Infernal to the world. Mortalès is the first production created by Cirque Infernal. The story of a circus performer, Mortalès is set in Europe
brothers, Varanne started a motorcycle daredevil show. They
in the Middle Ages. A troupe of tightrope walkers perform
toured the world and became internationally acclaimed for
in a village on a windy day. The weather is dangerous.
their skills. By the year 2000, the three brothers went their
The daredevil shouldn’t mount the high wire, but it’s the
separate ways, each one following a new path.
only work his family has known for generations. As the
50 / Creative Feel / March 2018