The Cirque Barbette company was founded by Rosa Matthis in 2010 in Brussels. Starting from a practice of wire walking, she developed her work as an equilibrist-artisan. Her creations are born from a socio-anthropological interest, with a particular focus on communication between people, the body and the image.
The name of the company, Cirque Barbette, is a nod to the meanings of words and names. Circus, because this urban, sedentary company likes to play with specialisations and clichés. Barbette is a tribute to the simplest kinds of diversion.
Barbette was the male trapeze artist who seduced his audience dressed as a woman and drove them wild by taking off his wig. The strongest phenomena sometimes come from the simplest ideas…
For the company’s creations, Rosa works closely with other artists. Some make occasional visits, others stay on like the pillars of a small urban tribe. They all share a particular interest in the human: its world and its interstices.
The company currently has 5 creations: ICI, Wasteland and cqfd?, Tu sens la terre bouger ? A Celebration and Playing and playing and playing.