ABOUT YOUNG STAGE

About YOUNG STAGE

YOUNG STAGE is the biggest international circus festival in Switzerland, it belongs to the most important festivals worldwide and to the top-class events in Switzerlands’ calendar of events.Circus festivals, which offer a platform, are very popular events in the international circus and show community. YOUNG STAGE is one of the best in its field. It has made a name for itself nationally as well as internationally in terms of world class performances of young artists, its state of the art show, the highly professional organization and especially the true heart and soul which comes with it. The mission is to offer a platform to young professional artists from all over the world to present their work, to get the contemporary circus developed and presented in general, to enable networking and to inspire the next generation (kids and teenagers). Each year the show is also used as a tv-broadcast which is aired on SAT.1 (Schweiz), SRF – Swiss Radio & Television, Telebasel and other tv-channels.

YOUNG STAGE consists of various events and shows and other happenings that are being held during the year.

The festival-show / the competition:

The festival is a competition and as well as a platform where young professional artists can present their work in a contemporary circus field. There are six public shows every year in  Basel. An international jury team consisting of experts coming from the fields of circus, show, TV and professional sports assesses the young artists. At the gala show the artists have the chance to win various awards and engagements in circus- & show productions in Switzerland and Europe. There are hundreds of artist applications each year. Many international showproducers, directors, agents and bookers travel to Basel, to discover new talents at the YOUNG STAGE festival.

Open-Air Circus Spectacle:

A spectacular event for everyone. Since 2018 there is a freely accessible open-air spectacle downtown Basel to develop and support young, creative circus and to offer a platform for artists. Noumerous circus companies from Switzerland and abroad perform on several open-air stages. Moreover, kids have the chance to try out different circus disciplines for free.

Networking Events:

There are several networking events each year such as panel discussions, workshops for young artists and the highly appreciated circus-speed-dating, where artists, bookers and producers have the chance to meet. These events are all freely accessible for all, who are in any kind involved in circus, performing arts and show business.

Circus Camps in Summer:

During the Corona Lockdown, the “YOUNG STAGE Circus Camps” were created, which were held in 2020 and 2021 & 2023 and are now to be part of the fixed annual programme of YOUNG STAGE. The Circus Camps are circus holidays for children aged 7-14. During two weeks, a total of 200 children are allowed to try out the various circus disciplines with experienced professional coaches and perform at the end of the week in the big final performances in front of parents, siblings, grandmas and grandpas. They eat, fiddle, sing, rehearse and, above all, laugh a lot together!

National Circus Convention:

Around two hundred circus-experienced kids and teenagers get the chance to work a day with professional and experienced artists. They are being coached, trained and inspired by real professionals.