Machine de Cirque Comes to Nelson This Weekend!
Endlessly inventive and ridiculously energetic circus for the whole whānau.
Machine de Cirque is a poetic and hilarious circus adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world. Five men, left entirely to themselves, attempt to reconnect with other survivors using a mysterious machine. Distracted by their imaginations and a remarkable talent for getting into trouble, they navigate their reality with friendship, ingenuity, and breathtaking circus skills, creating a show that is as touching as it is spectacular.
Direct from Québec, Canada, internationally acclaimed contemporary circus company Machine de Cirque arrives at Nelson Arts Festival with a wildly inventive performance blending jaw-dropping acrobatics, live music, humour and physical comedy. Teeterboards, juggling clubs, drum kits and bath towels become instruments for extraordinary feats of athleticism and absurdity, as they navigate a strange universe through courage, chaos and an infectious bond with one another.
Machine de Cirque has captivated audiences around the world, pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus while never losing their sense of humanity.
In this reckless, touching and comical show, five wacky characters find themselves alone in the world, trying to contact other survivors with the help of a strange machine. Along the way, they master a teeterboard, juggling clubs, a drum kit and even a bath towel, creating a 70-minute performance full of acrobatics, invention and broad comedy.
Part of a tour to Aotearoa in late 2026, with Nelson Arts Festival presenting the production at Trafalgar Centre in Nelson. It will be the only opportunity for South Island audiences to experience Machine De Cirque on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October.
The Nelson Arts Festival is New Zealand’s longest running annual regional arts festival and will deliver its 32nd programme in 2026, from 22 October–1 November. Over 11 days, the festival will celebrate dynamic multidisciplinary arts across Whakatū Nelson, showcasing premiere events from local creative forces alongside artistic works from around Aotearoa and international artists.
The programme will weave together bold placemaking experiences, a premium international showcase, and an electric mix of live music, comedy, theatre, storytelling, contemporary dance and celebratory cultural experiences.
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