Knitting Peace
Follow the threads to peace in an elegant stage show that marries breathtaking artistry with beautiful live soundtracks.
Scientists believe that striving for something better is what keeps us alive. The worst-case scenario would be to achieve our goals without finding something new to pursue. Circus artists often strive to achieve the impossible. Is the pursuit of an impossibility the way to happiness? Is to strive for peace on earth, to strive for the impossible?
Can the effort itself make a difference?
Is it possible to make peace?In this poetic circus performance, filled with yarn, tangles, ropes and threads, the artists try to knit their way to peace. Five circus artists create a magically beautiful world of ropes and yarns. Welcome to indulge in enigmatic music, sensitive poetry and a powerful quest for meaning.
An aesthetic whole, a well-composed visual poem, executed with scenic, contemplative calm.
Expressen
Knitting Peace at your venue?
Since its premiere in 2013, Knitting Peace has performed over 400 shows on three continents in 17 countries and 75 cities. Its core theme—our struggles to attempt world peace—is still very relevant today, so we can´t stop touring it.
Minimum measurements:
Stage area: 9 x 11 mt
Stage width (min): 12 mt
Stage depth (min): 12 mt
Ceiling height (min): 7 mtAt museums, parties or events
We have created Knitting Peace-inspired and personally tailored performances at, among others, the Nobel Prize Banquet, the Swedish Institute in Paris and the Army Museum in Stockholm.
We Knit for Peace
Foto: Sanna Lindberg
What started as the circus production Knitting Peace on a world tour has evolved into an international peace movement of knitters. Since 2013, local and global "Calls to Knit" have filled theatre foyers and exhibition spaces with knitted pieces and reflections on peace.
Reviews
Breakneck poetry in a homespun world. A charming and sympathetic work where the whole trumps the individual efforts – like stitches in a knitted piece.
Dagens Nyheter
An aesthetic whole, a well-composed image poem, executed with scenic, contemplative calm.
Expressen
Physical skill in combination with beautiful poetry creates fantastic art.
El País
Running time: 120 minutes
Age restrictions: Knitting Peace was created with an adult audience in mind. Still, we know that many children have enjoyed the show. You know your child best!
Cast & Crew
Ensemble 2024
Alexander Weibel Weibel/Pietro Barilli: Slack rope, Equilibrist, violin
Joana Martinho/Aino Ihanainen: Handstand, live knitting
Nathalie Bertholio/Sarah Lett: Floor/dance acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
Antonio Panaro/Mikael Kristiansen: Handstand, acrobatics
Joana Dias/Saara Ahola/Tiziana Prota and Mirja Jauhiainen: Aerial acrobatics, singing, accordion
Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson/Thea Åslund: Music, knitted livemusicAriellah Winther: Rigger/Technician
Lina Ståhl/Fredrik Ekström: Light technician
Therese Larsson: Sound technician
Fredrik “Fefe” Deijfen: Tour manager/Stage managerEnsemble 2023
Alexander Weibel Weibel/Pietro Barilli: Slack rope, Equilibrist, violin
Joana Martinho/Aino Ihanainen: Handstand, live knitting
Nathalie Bertholio/Aino Savolainen: Floor/dance acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
Antonio Panaro/Mikael Kristiansen: Handstand, acrobatics
Joana Dias/Saara Ahola and Mirja Jauhiainen: Aerial acrobatics, singing, accordion
Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: Music, knitted livemusicAriellah Winther: Rigger/Technician
Lina Ståhl: Light technician
Therese Larsson: Sound technician
Fredrik “Fefe” Deijfen: Tour manager/Stage managerEnsemble 2021-2022
Alexander Weibel Weibel: slack rope, equilibrist, violin
Aino Ihanainen/Joana Martinho: handstand, live knitting
Nathalie Bertholio/Sarah Lett: floor acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
Mikael Kristiansen/Antonio Panaro: handstand, acrobatics
Tiziana Prota/Joana Dias: aerial acrobatics, singing
Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: Music, knitted livemusik
Ariellah Winther: Rigger/Technician
Lina Ståhl/Fredrik Ekström: Light technician
Therese Larsson: Sound technician
Vilhelm Montan Lindberg: Tour manager/Stage managerEnsemble 2020
Joana Martinho: handstand, live knitting
Nathalie Bertholio/Sarah Lett: floor acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, roue cyr
Mikael Kristiansen: handstand, floor acrobatics
Tiziana Prota/Joana Dias: aeral acrobatics, singing
Alexander Weibel Weibel: slack rope, equilibrist, violin
Samuel ”Looptok” Andersson: knitted live musicRigger/technician: Ariellah Winther
Light technician: Fredrik Ekström
Sound technician: Therese Larsson
Tour manager/Stage manager: Vilhelm Montan LindbergCreative Team
Original ensemble 2013 & co-creators Aino Ihanainen, Alexander Weibel Weibel, Ilona Jäntti, Jens Engman, Matleena Laine, Niklas Blomberg, Quim Giron
Director and concept: Tilde Björfors
Composer & sound design: Samuel “Looptok” Andersson
Set design: Fanny Senocq, Tilde Björfors, Stefan ”Drake” Karlström, Joel Jedström & the ensemble
Knitted set design & knitted costumes: Aino Ihanainen
Costume design: Anna Bonnevier
Mask design: Helena Andersson
Light design: Ulf EnglundChoreographic advisor & artistic coach: Cilla Roos
Scenographic painter & props: Tomas Helsing
Technical coordination & constructions: Joel Jedström
Circus construction: Ulf “Poly” Nylin
Assistant director: Maria Wallin
Assisting light design: Fredrik EkströmLive photo: Mats Bäcker
Posterphoto: Mattias Edwall & Karolina HenkeThe performance is an all-embracing piece of art created by everyone involved - on and behind the stage.
Production Team
Producer: Mirja Jauhiainen
Technical producer: Henrik Enar
Tour & International Relations: Irene Ramilli
Head of Arts & Production department: Lena Kjellander Stockhaus
Executive Producer: Malin Brereton
Graphic design: Karin Roberts
Head of Marketing & Communication: Hillevi Berg Niska
Photos in the program: Karolina Henke
CEO Cirkus Cirkör: Kajsa GiertzThank you
To all the stage technicians who have tangled their way through the show. To the producers, tour planers, and tour managers who have strived to bring the show out in the world. All the artists, supporters and knitting enthusiasts that have been involved in Knitted Peace and the preproduction Knitted Peace during the years.
The renewed performance of Knitting Peace is a collaboration with Borås Stadsteater 2022.
With support from the Swedish Arts Council, Region Stockholm, Stockholms stad, Botkyrka Municipality.