Circus meets folk tradition – Karkelot is a celebration of life and community.Communality isn’t dead – it lives on in circus!
Karkelot (Revelry) is the Arctic Ensemble circus collective’s new, big, and visually stunning contemporary circus production, featuring acrobatics alongside traditional partner and group dances. The audience is treated to a cornucopia of acrobats, dancers, musicians, and masters of physical comedy.
The work draws inspiration from Finnish folk tradition, dance, and music, which whimsically intertwine with circus acrobatics, physical comedy, and a focus on being present in the moment. It revives historically familiar forms of coming together to celebrate. The ensuing revelry is elevated to yet another level by accordion artist
Johanna Juhola, who plays her own compositions.
Karkelot makes use of playful competitiveness inherent in both acrobatics and folk dance alike and demonstrates rare showmanship by wordlessly communicating through physical movement. Refreshingly, the performance dismantles the often gendered and strictly enacted roles of each discipline.
In the work, celebrations and rituals that accompany life and death - from birth to adulthood to marriage – all form a part of the revelry. The performance strives for authentic physical connection and invites the audience to join in the creation of new rituals for coming together.
Karkelot is a touring production and takes place in Arctic Ensemble’s famed circus tent. The tent is pitched at Marinsatama field in Kivenlahti in August and at Espoo virastokeskus in September and October.
Director: Jenni Kallo
Choreography: Riikka Puumalainen
Cast: Ada Forsberg, Anselmi Kaisanlahti, Eino Kaisanlahti, Armas Lintusaari, Orfeo Llewellyn, Pihla Ojala, Emmi Peltola, Minna Pulsa, Linnea Purontaus, Johanna Juhola, and Niina Rinta-Opas
Composer: Johanna Juhola
Sound designer: Antti Puumalainen
Costume designer and scenography: Mirkka Nyrhinen
Lighting designer: Jaakko Sirainen
Co-produced by: Kallo Collective
Performance language: mostly non-verbal, some Finnish and English
Age recommendation: 7+www.espoonteatteri.fi/enKARKELOT performances :Marinsataman kenttä, Marinsatamantie, 02320 Espoo
ti. 25.08.2026 18:30 ensi-ilta/premiere
ke. 26.08.2026 18:30
to. 27.08.2026 18:30
la. 29.08.2026 15:00
su. 30.08.2026 15:00
Espoon virastokeskus, Virastopiha 2 C
la. 26.09.2026 15:00
su. 27.09.2026 15:00
to. 01.10.2026 18:30
pe. 02.10.2026 18:30
la. 03.10.2026 15:00
