A remarkably warm, deeply empathetic comedy about aging and the peculiarities of human behaviour – ‘Julieta’ – is crashing onto the stage and proudly kicking off the announcements for this year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów! Gabriela Muñoz, the Mexican maverick stepping into the titular role, doesn’t just pay a homage to older people, but also audaciously redefines the very art of clowning with spectacular flair. Mark your calendars! The festival takes place from July 24-27, 2025, in Lublin.
The rallying cry for this year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów? A bold invitation: “RUN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS”! This isn’t merely a polite suggestion to leave your worries at the door; it’s an irresistible call to abandon the mundane and lose yourself completely in a whirlwind of uproarious laughter, untamed joy, and pure, glorious spontaneity. Don’t wait – start planning your escape to the festival now and gear up for an adventure that’s anything but ordinary! Gabriela Muñoz’s stage creation, ‘Julieta’, is your guaranteed ticket to this adventure!
It’s a madcap, unforgettable tale of a woman aging unapologetically, dragging a baggage of experiences and truly glorious quirks through life. Bursting with wit and an incredible, untamed zest for living, she swings open the door to her small apartment – her eccentric universe. Through her bizarre daily rituals, we plunge headfirst into the hilarious and sometimes startling stages of her life, watching her change and transform before our eyes.
Over time, her home morphs into a mirror labyrinth of memories, a space as delightfully strange as its inhabitant. But does she panic? Absolutely not! Julieta gleefully plays with whatever glorious oddity life throws her way, finding joy in every peculiar moment.
Whether she’s primping for a potential hot date with her favourite TV star, audaciously taping away wrinkles with glorious disregard for convention, or hilariously sliding across the floor on olive oil mid-workout – Julieta fearlessly examines the wild journey of aging and how her image shifts and shapeshifts with every passing year.
Not a single word is spoken in the performance. The story explodes through a riot of expressive faces, outlandish gestures, and truly unpredictable turns. This masterful one-woman spectacle, a true gem of theatre, playfully and gracefully reveals the poignant contrast between youth and old age.
The muse behind it all? Gabriela’s own great-aunt. Muñoz offers a glimpse into the vibrant, unconventional spirit that sparked the show: “I loved being close to Julieta and feeling her go through every step that led her towards saying goodbye to this earthly stage of life,” Muñoz shares. “I saw her, at 83, going to the beauty salon with a group of friends to drink rum and coke and smoke cigars. I heard her play the piano perfectly, even though she didn’t remember who she was. Julieta, a free spirit, funny, creative, vain and flirtatious, a generous woman who taught me a lot about the life I myself would one day want to have”.
Muñoz’s homage is no polite, quiet nod; it’s a full-blown, riotous celebration of living life loud and proud, embracing the absurd, the hilarious, and the gloriously messy nuances of it all. Critics were absolutely floored!
British Fringe Review declared it “completely masterful.”
The French Le Circassian raved that “Muñoz has succeeded in creating a deep connection with the audience, transporting them to an intimate and fascinating universe.”
An Italian publication hailed it as a “miracle on stage,”
The Scotsman cheered for its “perfect comic timing,”
and the English ‘The Spy in the Stalls’ applauded its “inventive, iconoclastic approach to the art of clowning.”
Tickets are dropping soon – and these seats will vanish like smoke! Don’t miss out on the spectacle! Keep your eyes peeled on our social media, check carnavallublin.eu, or better yet, jump on the newsletter for the latest updates.
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About
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is 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.
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
24–27 July 2025
Lublin – Old Town & Błonia near the Castle
Admission to most events is free | | Selected performances ticketed