Circus Ronaldo (Belgium) – Fidelis Fortibus

‘Cirque a l’ancienne’ from Belgium, performed in traditional commedia dell’arte style. For six generations the Ronaldo family has toured Flanders with its beautiful gypsy caravans and eccentric, hand-made mix of circus and theatre. Since its first ever overseas appearance at the 1998 Mime Festival, Circus Ronaldo has gone on to win hearts around the world.

A comical and poetic CIRCUS performance with warm humour and slight melancholy, Fidelis Fortibus is a highly unusual solo performance created and performed by award winning circus legend Danny Ronaldo, who returns to Freedom Festival following his performance in 2012. Danny appears in the ring alone, surrounded by a circle of buried circus artistes. The powerful illusions he creates brings the dead souls back to life. With the audience complicit in maintaining the illusion of the grand spectacle giving applause and waves of laughter, it still sounds like a reality. He will never leave. Or perhaps he might. But would that be to give up? To be disloyal? Fidelis Fortibus provides recognisable metaphorical images for many of today’s human situations, because we never have to look far to recognise old patterns that are kept alive by an unconscious loyalty to the past.

This event takes place at Circus Ronaldo Tent, Queens Gardens, Hull HU1 2AG