Lecture – Once Upon a Time at the Circus

Pointe-à-Callière’s lectures are being held in person again!

For this first lecture complementing the It’s Circus Time! exhibition, the Museum has invited specialist Pascal Jacob to take us back in time to the origins of the circus arts.

The history of the circus arts is probably as old as that of humanity itself. Pushing the limits, producing laughter, and inspiring a sense of wonder are just as much a part of people’s daily lives as they are to those of acrobats and tightrope walkers. The circus as we know it today really flourished in the 18th century, but it drew on ancient sources to come into being.

The universal art form made its way to countless places all around the world: Montréal and Québec City had built beautiful stone circus buildings by the late 18th century. When acrobatics, clowning, and object manipulation began their revolution in the late 1960s, Québec quickly established itself as a land of circuses, a favourable breeding ground for many circus companies. For some of them, much like an ancient empire, the sun never sets…

Lecturer: Pascal Jacob, author, and circus arts specialist

Forever fascinated with the circus, Pascal Jacob enjoys a busy career in the field, working as a set designer, costume designer, and artistic director. He has notably worked for Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey, Rolf Knie, Cirque Phénix, Feld Entertainment, and Prime Time Entertainment. He recently took part in the development of several show projects for Dragone.

Alongside his activities as a designer and artistic director, he lectures on circus history at Montréal’s National Circus School and at the Académie Fratellini in Saint-Denis. The collector and author has also published some forty books on the circus.