A newcomer to the Big Apple Circus tent in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park in New York City is Circus Roncalli making its United States debut. Old-fashioned European circus arts fill the one-ring circus with a dose of charm and a dash of nostalgia. Founded by Bernhard Paul in the 1976, Circus Roncalli presents Journey to The Rainbow, with lighting design by Falk Zaitz*, Live Design touches base with Zeitz about the lighting, which adds color as it helps focus the eye of the audience.
Related story: Designing In One Ring: Circus Roncalli Comes To New York City
Live Design: How do you design the rig for the tent? And to tour?
Falk Zeitz: The design of the rig was done by Toni Munar** and me, and we designed it specifically for the round arena of the circus. In Roncalli in Germany, we do not have exactly the same rig, but it is similar. It's specially designed to get the artist from all sides. A circus is not like a stage where you only need light from the front. The audience sits completely around the performer, they can see him from all sides and for that we need light from all sides. But we can also create beautiful images with our fixtures from the back, so we can fill the whole tent with a nice atmospheric light.
LD: Does all the gear tour with the show?
FZ: Yes, usually all the gear goes with us on tour. It's not like renting in every new city.
LD: What are the main lighting positions?
FZ: The main lighting positions are on our four masts and we also have a follow spot position from the front.
LD: Choice of fixtures, where and why?
FZ: The plan was that we would get sort of the same fixtures as the circus in Germany. We have 23 Claypaky Mythos fixtures under the roof that make effect light the same way as normal white light to get normal 'working light' on stage for some acts. On the masts we have 12 Claypaky Axor 600 for effects and position points of the requisites.
LD: Use of movement and color?
FZ: Each artist tells a story and with the lights we try to get more impressions and feelings in the act.
LD: Challenges working with a touring show in a tent with circus acts?
FZ: The main challenge is the round stage, you can see the performer from every side. So, each side needs good lighting so that everyone in the audience has the same experience. In a way, we have to pay a lot of attention to waterproofing and safety with all our electrical components. We have to make sure that everything is safe even in heavy rain and that we have a dry place to work.
*Falk Zeitz, Light Designer and Operator at Circus-Theater Roncalli: Trained as a media designer for image and sound Falk started to work as a light designer for Christmas Markets in Germany and festivals. Since 2022 he’s worked with the Circus-Theater Roncalli and created the new Light Plot together with Toni Munar.
** Toni Munar, Technical Responsible, Light Designer and Operator at Circus-Theater Roncalli: After his graduation Toni has worked in various positions in Technical and Artistic production for Events and Shows. With his deep understanding of show and artistic he creates together with Patrick Philadelphia scenic effects for our shows.