The Idle Hour

On a life-sized hamster wheel, two acrobats meet: one restless, the other calm. They reveal how we keep running after happiness that always seems just out of reach.

The Idle Hour is a non-verbal contemporary circus performance that explores the relentless pursuit of productivity in modern society. Set on a minimalist stage with a human-sized hamster wheel, the piece features two acrobats whose contrasting personalities, one frantic and the other calm, unfold through a series of physical interactions. The wheel becomes both a symbol and an instrument of their existential struggle: a metaphor for the endless race toward an elusive happiness. Through a fusion of acrobatics, dance, and sound, the performance invites the audience to reflect on the pressures of modern life, the search for purpose, and the potential for peace amidst chaos.

Over het gezelschap

Motus murmuri is an international circus company based in Valais, Switzerland. The company is dedicated to supporting and promoting the performing arts. It continues the work of Samuel Rhyner, its artistic director.

As suggested by its name (“motus murmuri” ; the whisper of movement in Latin), the company’s productions are at the crossroads of circus, dance, and music. Communicating through the universal languages of body and music, the often wordless performances transcend geographical, linguistic, and generational boundaries.

They are a gentle blend of the abstract and the absurd, offering audiences a moment of respite, allowing them to immerse themselves in the world of Motus murmuri.

More info

concept, sound creation and direction Samuel Rhyner performance Samuel Rhyner and William Blenkin external eye Luuk Brantjes, Britt Timmermans musical advice Pierrick Bacher set design construction Job Schuermans choreographic advice Pia Meuthen light creation Eligio Membrez photography and videos Mastershot Maïm Dedeene technology Jef Delva administration Melanie Lamon, Samuel Rhyner & Vanessa Lixon production Motus murmuri with support of CIRKLABO (Leuven, BE), Loterie Romande (CH), Canton du Valais (CH), City of Monthey (CH), Fondation Ernst Göhner (CH), Mira miro (Gent, BE), Pourcent-culturel Migros (CH), Circusstad Festival (Rotterdam, NL), Fonds culturel de la Société Suisse des Auteurs (SSA) et ProCirque, Corodis (CH), Espace Parallèle (St-Maurice, CH) et Quartier Culturel Malévoz (Monthey, CH), Fondation Engelberts (CH), Korzo Theater (Den Haag, NL), Circuswerkplaats Dommelhof (Neerpelt, BE), Banque Raiffeisen de Monthey (CH), festival CIRKL (Leuven, BE), Panama Pictures (’s Hertogenbosch, NL), Station Circus (Basel, CH) adminstrative support Buro Pikket