Walk My World: Budapest's Groundbreaking Immersive Circus Experience
In the heart of Budapest, an empty 6,000 square metre warehouse has been transformed into a breathtaking theatrical landscape. Hungarian director Bence Vági's latest production, Walk My World, flings circus into the 21st century with a modern style of acrobatics where performers soar above as the audience wanders freely from room to room. This immersive spectacle, which opened last year, has quickly become a must-see attraction, blending steampunk dystopia with Berlin cabaret aesthetics.
A Labyrinth of Stories and Spectacles
Imagine 40 smaller performing spaces spread across multiple levels, depicting the fallen remains of Troy on one side and the city of Carthage on the other. At its dark centre lies a labyrinth, while above sits the decadent realm of the gods, eager to interact with struggling humans below. Step through a black-curtained door, and you enter a neon-lit bar where two men writhe and twist on ropes overhead. Climb a spiral staircase to find a goddess hanging by her hair, spinning frenetically above a pool. Somewhere below, a monster drags a woman into the labyrinth's heart, and exiled Trojan soldiers pay homage to an imperious queen.
Audience members are free to roam, following characters or exploring the set at their own whim, often stumbling upon performances by chance. With 26 performers, each with their own narrative based on the tale of Dido and Aeneas from Virgil's Aeneid, the show features gods, monsters, lovers, and soldiers woven into a looser narrative. Scenes range from over half an hour to just a few minutes, involving jugglers, aerialists, gymnasts, acrobats, and dancers in various combinations. There is no safety net or traditional stage—only viewer and performer in an intimate, dynamic environment.
The Visionary Behind Recirquel
Walk My World is the brainchild of Bence Vági, founder and artistic director of Hungarian contemporary circus company Recirquel. Born in the final decade of the cold war, Vági's first theatre experience was circus, a strong cultural element in Soviet countries deemed ideologically sound by authorities. His childhood spanned communist Hungary and the West, as his father, an athlete, moved the family to West Germany for five years before returning after the Berlin Wall's collapse.
Vági discovered a passion for dance in Germany, continuing with intense training upon his return east. He later studied at Liverpool's prestigious Institute for Performing Arts, co-founded by Paul McCartney. Inspired by Cardiff's NoFit State Circus at the Edinburgh festival, which blurred boundaries between audience and performers, Vági proposed a show to Hungary's Sziget festival. Despite initial skepticism, he secured funding and training, leading to the creation of Recirquel and a new form he calls cirque danse—a fusion of acrobatic skills with contemporary and classical dance.
Artistic Freedom and Innovation
Recirquel's debut show, Night Circus, was an immediate success, earning support from Müpa Budapest, Hungary's leading cultural institution. Subsequent productions like The Legend of the Golden Stag and award-winning IMA (Pray) have garnered international acclaim. Vági's influences range from Robert Lepage and Bob Fosse to Crystal Pite, with sets built by a team that worked on Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy.
Half of Walk My World's funding comes from the Hungarian government, raising questions about artistic freedom under Viktor Orbán's rightwing Fidesz regime. However, Vági asserts no limitations, citing shows like My Land featuring Ukrainian artists and LGBTQ+ characters in Walk My World. He emphasizes his commitment to artistic integrity, vowing to leave the country if ever censored.
A Technical Marvel and Emotional Journey
The complexity of Walk My World is mind-bending. Performers wear discreet smartwatches to ensure they hit cues and coordinate across the vast set, akin to a Rube Goldberg machine with 26 parts. Lighting and music are tailored for each performing space, all moving simultaneously. The finale converges audiences for an exhilarating sequence where acrobats launch from a Russian swing, followed by a heartbreaking aerial dance between Dido and Aeneas, performed on ropes high above.
Vági aims for Walk My World to become a staple of Hungarian culture, encouraging visitors to seek it out in Budapest. While future tours are possible, his focus remains on embedding the show in the city's artistic landscape. This innovative production showcases astonishing physical skills combined with the emotive impact of dance, creating drama that surrounds spectators in a truly immersive experience.
