Sawdust Symphony
Michael Zandl | David Eisele | Kolja Huneck
ABOUT
Craftsmanship confronting circus.
Sawdust Symphony is a circus performance in which Michael Zandl, David Eisele and Kolja Huneck combine their passion for crafting, fresh wood and object manipulation.
This piece talks about the human desire to create: the process from vision to construction, the tragedy of work and the relationship between tools and humans. Obsessed characters discover and transform their space and themselves to take the spectator into a unique DIY experience.
Sawdust Symphony is an intense dialogue between satisfaction, frustration and the smell of gasoline.
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REVIEWS
"It’s like Looney Tunes meets Pina Bausch, the trio’s individual and collective obsessions played out with humour and despair amid the sensory pleasure of newly planed wood shavings."
★★★★
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"Sawdust Symphony is slick, elegant and witty."
"They call it a symphony but for my money this has the scale of an opera."
"This is an incredibly unique production, made with incredible skill and love and it is definitely in my top ten shows of the Fringe. Ever."
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"It’s intense, yet the playful tone of the show frames it as wonderfully absurd."
"This is a mesmerising production that transforms the art of carpentry into a captivating spectacle, leaving both craftsmen and spectators in awe."
★★★★
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"Delightfully quirky."
"Sawdust Symphony has a strong circus element but is as philosophical as it is physical."
★★★★
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"Sawdust Symphony is that rarest of things at the Fringe - a show like no other. It’s hard to imagine anyone else dreaming up the concept, let alone having the skill and talent to execute it."
★★★★★
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"A breathtaking and balletic, lyrical tribute to carpentry."
"Sawdust Symphony is genuinely miraculous: it will spin you out into the world with a renewed childlike joy, the belief that anything might be possible. Not just for the DIY enthusiasts – everyone deserves to see it."
★★★★★
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"Sawdust Symphony is unique; I have not seen anything like it on stage, in the circus ring or anywhere else. There were echoes of Dada, Samuel Beckett and even Alien but there were moments of breathtaking brilliance, inspired originality and astounding wit. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."
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"The piece Sawdust Symphony is a sublime example of how visual, enchanting and meaningful contemporary circus theatre can be."
★★★★★
Annette Embrechts - de Volkskrant
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"The circus- and theatrical performance of the trio is phenomenal, stunning.
We want to see more of this world of magical illusions!"
KULTUR - Zeitschrift für Kultur und Gesellschaft
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"With their piece, the three circus artists symbolized the collaboration between people and nature. A symbiosis that couldn't be more beautiful!"
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"Sawdust Symphony is the proof that circus deserves
a prominent place in the theatres."
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"Sawdust Symphony was so alienating, bizarre, elusive and surprising that I won't soon forget it."
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DATES
2026
19.-20.10.2026, TAK - Saal am Lindaplatz - Liechtenstein (LIE)
22.-23.10.2026 Festival Circa Auch (FR)
more performance dates for 2026 and 2027 will follow soon!
past dates
2026 (38 performances)
14.-31.08.2026, Festival Letní Letná - Prague (CZ)
27.-28.06.2026, FITS - Sibiu (RO)
13.-14.06.2026, Festival Terminal - Udine (IT)
12.-15.03.2026, Festival SPRING, LE TRIDENT, La Brèche/Normandie, 50102 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Cedex (FR)
24.02.2026, Nøtterøy Kulturhus (NOR)
21.02.2026, Festiviteten Teater Haugesund (NOR)
18.02.2026, Reginateatern Uppsala (SWE)
05.-06.02.2026, panoptikum Festival Nürnberg (DE)
30.-31.01.2026, WINTERZIRKUS T-Werk, Potsdam (DE)
22.-24.01.2026, TIVOLI MONTARGIS, 45200 Montargis (FR)
21.01.2026, TRANSVERSALES - Scène conventionnée Cirque, 55100 Verdun (FR)
14. & 15.01.2026, Kinneksbond, Centre Culturel Mamer (LUX)
2024 (43 performances)
2. & 3.11.2024, Zirkusquartier Zürich (CH)
26. & 27.10.2024, wunder. Figurentheaterfestival München (DE)
22.10.2024, Burghof Lörrach (DE)
19.10.2024, FILharmonie Filderstadt (DE)
12.10.2024, Verkadefabriek Den Bosch (NL)
10.10.2024, Konzert Theater Coesfeld (DE)
05.-08.09.2024, at.tension Lärz (DE)
13.-25.08.2024, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (GB-SCT)
22. & 23.05.2024, Festival PERSPECTIVES Saarbrücken (DE)
18.-20.05.2024, CircusDanceFestival Cologne (DE)
19. & 20.04.2024, Dynamo Odense (DK)
17.04.2024, GRØNNEGADES KASERNE KULTURCENTER Næstved (DK)
29. & 30.03.2024, UP Festival Brussels (BE)
23. & 24.02.2024, Trafó Budapest (HU)
26. & 27.01.2024, Westflügel Leipzig (DE)
24.01.2024, Theater De Maagd, Bergen op Zoom (NL)
2023 (28 performances)
21.12.2023, Taqa Theater Alkmaar (NL)
20.12.2023, Schouwburg Deventer (NL)
19.12.2023, De Warande Turnhout (BE)
17.12.2023, VU Griffioen Amsterdam (NL)
16.12.2023, Lux Nijmegen (NL)
14.12.2023, CC Zwaneberg, Heist op den Berg (BE)
12.12.2023, Parktheater Eindhoven (NL)
10.12.2023, Parkstad Limburg Theaters Heerlen (NL)
08.12.2023, Latitude 50 Marchin (BE)
03.12.2023, De Ploter Ternat (BE)
02.12.2023, Schouwburg Amstelveen (NL)
01.12.2023, cultuurcentrum Casino Koksijde (BE)
29.11.2023, Harmonie Leeuwarden (NL)
17. & 18.11.2023, Dynamo Odense (DK) (rescheduled to April 2024)
15.11.2023, GRØNNEGADES KASERNE KULTURCENTER Næstved (DK) (rescheduled to April 2024)
14.11.2023, Baltoppen LIVE Ballerup (DK) (cancelled)
07.10.2023, Jacksons Lane London (UK)
04. & 05.10.2023, Circus City Bristol (UK)
31.08. & 01.09.2023, CIRCUSBENDE Festival Amsterdam (NL)
24.03.2023, SCENAR!O Festival Eupen (BE)
15.03.2023, Chassée Theater Breda (NL)
04.03.2023, Schouwburg De Lawei, Drachten (NL)
02.03.2023, Schuur, Haarlem (NL)
25. & 26.02.2023, Theater Bellevue Amsterdam (NL)
23.02.2023, SPOT Groningen (NL)
10.02.2023, Schouwburg/Theater Rotterdam (NL)
03.02.2023, Flottmannhallen Herne (DE)
01.02.2023, CC Brugge (BE)
15.01.2023, This is not a circus, Theater Bellevue Amsterdam (NL)
2022 (39 performances)
21. & 22.12.2022, CC30 Leuven (BE)
09.-16.12.2022, Winterfest Salzburg (AT)
17.11.2022, Maaspodium Rotterdam (NL)
09.10.2022, VITRINE PERPLX #3, Kortrijk (BE)
24. & 25.09.2022, Circus Festival Breda (NL)
15. & 16.09.2022, Atoll Festival, Karlsruhe (DE)
02. & 03.09.2022, Krapoldi im Park, Innsbruck (AT)
27.07.2022, Festival Brocante, Frisanco (IT)
23.07.2022, Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße (AT)
18. & 19.07.2022, Miramiro Festival, Ghent (BE)
15.07.2022, Kulturgut Wintrup, Steinheim (DE)
02.07.2022, Wijland Festival, Wisentbos - Dronten (NL)
08. & 09.06.2022, Furies Festival, Châlons-en-Champagne (FR)
06. & 07.05.2022, Circusstad Festival Rotterdam (NL)
22.04.2022, Theater ins Blau, Leiden (NL)
08.04.2022, Festival Rencontre des Jonglages, 93120 La Courneuve (FR)
05.04.2022, Agora/Scène Nationale de l'Essonne, 91000 Évry (FR)
01.04.2022, Espace Germinal, 95470 Fosses (FR)
30.03.2022, De Lieve Vrouw Amersfoort (NL)
29.03.2022, Theater Bellevue Amsterdam (NL)
28.01.2022, Podium Hoge Woerd, Utrecht (NL)
2021 (9 performances)
17. & 18.12 2021, Théâtre Jean-Arp, 92140 Clamart (FR)
03. & 04.11.2021, Theater op de Markt, Dommelhof Neerpelt (BE)
24. & 25.09.2021, PREMIERE, Korzo Theatre Den Haag (NL)
09. & 10.09.2021, PRE-PREMIERE, Freundenhaus Lustenau (AT)
THE ARTISTS
Michael Zandl, David Eisele and Kolja Huneck graduated 2017, 2018 and 2019 from Codarts Circus Arts in Rotterdam and became good friends with complementing artistic approaches. Through the process of creating their individual solo pieces 'Janus', 'Cycle' and 'CM_30', Michael, David and Kolja discovered their passion for building and crafting. This is what brings them together to create as a collective.
Michael Zandl
Michael Zandl is a circus creator and performer from Austria and graduated from Codarts Circus Arts in Rotterdam in 2017. His work reflects his passion for absurd situations and subtle humour, which he embraces as powerful tools of expression. Technical intricacies and special effects are at the heart of his performances. Designing and building his own scenography, props, and illusions is an integral part of his creative process.
In 2025, Michael premiered his latest performance, FOOD, marking his directorial debut and further expanding his artistic practice as both a performer and a creator.
David Eisele
David Eisele grew up near the Black Forest close to Freiburg, Germany. His work focuses on translating the qualities that emerge from Diabolo and Cyr Wheel into new surroundings. The passion to discover the energetic flow and influence on state of mind are at the heart of his artistic practice. After graduating from Codarts Circus Arts Rotterdam in 2018, he independently produced ’CYCLE’ and ‘BARK’ with the company ‘Acting for Climate’. His award-winning act ’Senses’ took him on a journey through 10 countries. His latest creation, ’TORNADO'S EYE’ was released in 2025.
Kolja Huneck is circus author and performer from Munich, Germany and graduated in 2019 from Codarts Circus Arts in Rotterdam. Currently, the focus of his work and interests are on contemplative circus pieces and alternative dramaturgies that stimulate thoughts or provide ephemeral sensory impressions. His signature objects are vinyl records and self-developed disks. Besides working in the collective with Sawdust Symphony, he is touring his solo piece 'CM_30'.
CREDITS
Michael Zandl, David Eisele, Kolja Huneck
Lucho Smit, Darragh McLoughlin
Juliano Abramovay, Lasse Munk
Sanne Rosbag
Philipp Dünnwald, Michael Zandl
Roland Kumpl, Stephan Kalod, Casper van Overschee, Batist Van Baekel, Cecilia Rosso
Aurora Nova (Menno van Dyke)
Korzo (Mirjam Zwanenburg)
Federal Chancellery Republic of Austria, Dutch Ministry of Culture, Municipality of The Hague (NL)
Provinciaal Domein Dommelhof - Theater op de Markt, Le Palc - Pôle national cirque - Châlons-en-Champagne
Latitude 50 - Pôle des arts du cirque et de la rue, Werkplaats Diepenheim, Dynamo - Workspace for circus and performing arts, La Transverse - Scène Ouverte aux Arts Publics, Gutsverwaltung Fischhorn, TENT
Christine & Josef Zandl, Batist van Baekel, Daniel Beiter, Birgit Haberkamp
authors + performers:
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