Theatre francais de Toronto to Welcome Cirque Alfonse for TIMBER

Théâtre français de Toronto and PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC, welcome Québec's contemporary circus company Cirque Alfonse and their jaw-dropping spectacle TIMBER! Featuring line dancing, log throwing, daring axe juggling and acrobatic feats above the open blade of a huge two-man saw, TIMBER! will be presented July 23 to 25 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, as part of the Arts and Culture Festival PANAMANIA presented by CIBC.

You can almost smell the fresh-cut pine logs and the sweat of the lumberjacks as you enjoy the performers of Cirque Alfonse rollicking to traditional music fromQuebec. This young circus troupe from the village of Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez has drawn upon their country roots as inspiration for this totally originalcreative project. TIMBER! is clearly off the beaten track. To begin with, the show's creators have taken their inspiration directly from the woods on their real-life family farm for the design of their crazily unique acrobatic apparatus. The experience feels and smells authentic and the atmosphere is hyperfestive. This family of talented acrobats and musicians create a colourful, energized experience including epic feats of agility and strength set in a world of lumberjacks, loggers and traditional Quebec farm life.

"Timber! is an enchanting mélange inspired by cultural and circus traditions, but never constrained by them" notes Time Out New York while Le Devoir states: "Delivered by three generations with humour and without artifice, Timber! seduces by its sincerity and its creativity".

Directed by Alain Francoeur. Featuring acrobats Alain Carabinier, Antoine Carabinier Lépine, Jonathan Casaubon and Guillaume Saladin as well as dancer and singer Julie Carabinier Lépine.

Musicians: Josianne Laporte, David Boulanger and André Gagné. Lighting Concept & Production Director: Nicolas Descôteaux.

Established in 2005, Cirque Alfonse is a fresh and innovative addition to Quebec's circus tradition. Having worked with the most renowned "nouveau cirque" companies of Quebec and Europe, the company's founding members are all well experienced in the circus world. Comprised of a team of professional acrobats (graduates from the National Circus School in Montreal), a professional dancer, an ex-skiing champion and three hot versatile musicians, this audacious group of young performers is blazing a creative path that no one had yet thought to explore. In an inspired look to the future with a nod to tradition, Cirque Alfonse has dared to blend the artistry and the techniques of contemporary circus with traditional Quebecois music and some of the liveliest aspects of Quebec's traditions and folklore.

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