Step into the strange, the surreal, and the spectacular. Winter, by the French company My!Laika, is a firecracker of a performance that shatters expectations and rewrites the rules of circus theatre. Part apocalyptic fever dream, part poetic rebellion, Winter might just be the most glorious tribute to absurdity ever staged.
The group, having long given up on making sense of reality, created a universe of their own—a chaotic, crumbling world where nothing is linear and everything means something. Or nothing. You’ll get four chances to step into their wild imagination during Carnaval Sztukmistrzów 2025, taking place July 24–27 in Lublin.
What to Expect?
Tacky illusions, pseudo-philosophical monologues, and delightfully pointless circus tricks… What may seem silly on the surface turns out to be the heart of Winter’s brilliance. Drawing from literature, film, and music, My!Laika delivers a performance that gleefully evades structure, logic, and traditional form.
Don’t be fooled by the chaos—behind the absurdity lies astonishing mastery of the new circus arts. It’s no wonder The Guardian hailed the show as “fiery and punk”, calling the troupe “a true phenomenon—versatile performers with not only circus chops but serious musical talent.”T
he result? A spectacle brimming with enigmatic figures, delicate circus études, and tangled storylines. Beneath the whimsy lies a meditation on mortality, fleeting joy, and the quiet despair of characters grappling with a world far beyond their control.
The Story Begins… in the Dust of an Old Museum
From the shadows of a forgotten museum emerges a series of strange characters, fragmented storylines, and tender circus vignettes. Beneath the madness lies a quiet reflection on death, fleeting joy, and the sense of helplessness in the face of a world spinning out of control.
Can we escape the impasse? Winter doesn’t answer directly. Instead, it invites us into a dreamlike search—full of music, juggling, acrobatics, object manipulation, and wild theatrical invention.
About My!Laika
Formed in 2009, My!Laika is a trailblazing collective working at the intersection of movement, music, and visual theatre. Their creations are born from unlikely associations and grounded in theatre that intentionally avoids easy narratives and tidy resolutions.
They made their debut with Popcorn Machine, awarded at the Jeunes Talents Cirque Festival (2010), and gained further acclaim through their self-produced tent, Side Kunst-Cirque, which gave rise to shows like Dekalé, Stupid Palace, Laerte, and Radio Tagadà. Their 2022 production Winter continues their streak of genre-defying performances, while site-specific projects like Domoi and large-scale pieces like La Soirée demonstrate the full range of their artistry—including film production.
About Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
Poland’s leading contemporary circus festival, a vibrant annual event in Lublin. Attracting large audiences of both locals and tourists, the festival showcases a diverse array of world-class circus arts, from captivating clowning and breathtaking acrobatics to juggling and illusion. The programme also includes engaging performances for children and live music events. As Poland’s most diverse performing arts festival, it uniquely hosts Urban Highline, the world’s oldest and largest urban highlining competition.
With most of the programme held outdoors and free to the public, Carnaval Sztukmistrzów brings high-quality performance art into the very heart of the city — making circus arts accessible and unforgettable. A few shows are ticketed and held under the big top or in theatres.
Stay tuned — more artist announcements are on the way!
Ticket sales begin mid-May.
Who else will perform?
The 2025 edition will feature performances from international stars such as Gabriela Muñoz, whose show Julieta is a tender, comical portrait of a woman navigating aging and memory. Bursting with humour and zest for life, Julieta invites the audience into her tiny apartment — a space that becomes her entire universe. Through her daily rituals, we glimpse the stages of her life, watching her transform with tenderness and whimsy. The show draws inspiration from the real-life story of Muñoz’s great-aunt, adding an intimate, personal layer to an already enchanting performance.
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24–27 July 2025
Lublin – Old Town & Błonia near the Castle
Admission to most events is free | | Selected performances ticketed