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Circus version of Swan Lake touches down at Meridian Arts Centre

Production photo of Circa's Duck Pond. iPhoto caption: Photo by Pia Johnson.
/By / Jan 28, 2025
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This week, TO Live will present Circa’s Duck Pond, a circus reimagining of Swan Lake.

Blending cheeky humour with impressive physicality, Duck Pond is created by Circa artistic director Yaron Lifschitz and 10 of the Australia-based company’s esteemed ensemble members. 

It features haute couture costumes by Libby McDonnell, music by Jethro Woodward (with help from Tchaikovsky), and lighting by Alexander Berlage.

This Toronto engagement is part of a cross-Canada tour. After its run at Meridian Arts Centre (from January 30 to February 1), Duck Pond will play TOHU in Montreal (from February 5 to 9) and Le Diamant in Quebec City (from February 13 to 15).

“Ballet, fairy tale, and circus lovers alike will be transfixed as Duck Pond draws upon the worlds of Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling, as well as a variety of different acrobatic languages — from the seductive burlesque Black Swan to the clowning of the sequin-flippered Duck Army,” said Lifschitz in a press release.


Duck Pond runs at Meridian Arts Centre from January 30 to February 1. Tickets are available here.

Liam Donovan
WRITTEN BY

Liam Donovan

Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.

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