Roundabout is a comical-poetic game between a juggler and a 2.5 m tall, rotating disc. The disc becomes a horizontal hamster wheel, which is kept running relentlessly. But despite the increasing effort, there is no progress for the protagonist. What happens if he stops, completely exhausted? How can he stay on the disc? This creates a thrilling game of tumbling juggling, stumbling acrobatics and wavering dance. In this mini circus ring, Roundabout celebrates gravity and centrifugal force. If running means standing still and pausing becomes dynamic, can failure also means success?
Funded by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen as part of the funding programme Neue Künste Ruhr and the NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste.
About the Company
Spot the Drop: Niels Seidel was trained at the Ecole Supérieur des Arts du Cirque (ESAC) in Brussels with a focus on partner acrobatics and juggling. After his juggling solo "Walsque" (2002) he performed with the Belgian Compagnie Feria Musica in the contemporary circus piece Le Vertige du Papillon (2004). In Wuppertal, together wit Malte Steinmetz he founded the duo Spot the Drop. The duo produced several pieces: "Vorwürfe & Handgreiflichkeiten" (2010), "Das Klappstuhlorchester" (2011), "Stehfleisch & Sitzvermögen" (2016) and "Standard" (2021). After 15 successful years together, Niels Seidel now continues Spot the Drop as a solo artist.
About the Location
The five-aisle building complex of the Flottmann-Hallen in Herne, which still exists today, was originally the administrative building of the mechanical engineering company of the same name. Built in 1908 in the Art Nouveau style, the company site covered several hectares and produced rock drills for the mining industry.
After the out-migration of many large industries from the Ruhr area, the city of Herne bought the site. In 1986 the remaining building complex was converted into a facility for leisure and culture. In addition to a 500sqm exhibition hall which hosts exhibitions regularly, there are two stages where productions from contemporary circus, puppet and object theater, as well as comedy and concerts are presented.