insomnia

 
 

Early impressions on one of the research topics for this creation.

Insomnia, premiere December 2025

A solo circus show about the passing of time. How subjective time can be, no matter how much we would like to, we can't hold onto it and the only way to make it last is to savour the moment. It’s a circus show meant to allow the audience to reflect by themselves, and to lend perspective to their own perception of time. Nowadays it’s easy to get caught up in the notion that we should all be doing more with our time, while stress and the feeling of running out of time is more present than ever. Creating a circus show about this isn’t about telling the audience to make other choices with their time, but about giving a space to stop and look at time differently, however briefly.

The project's theme is embodied by the inherent physicality of aerial rope. By emphasising the tempo of movements, and intentionally changing it in surprising ways, the audience will experience how relative their perception of time can be. 

Insomnia will premiere December 17th 2025 at Cirklabo Festival in Leuven, Belgium.

The show is produced, created and performed by Jakob Jacobsson, with light design by Teo Lanerva, and Viivi Roiha as outside eye.

The show is co-produced by circusnext, co-funded by the European Union. Insomnia is a finalist in the 2025 selection of circusnext.

The project is supported by CIRKLABO, Nuua Company, Dynamo Workspace, WORM Rotterdam.

Photo: Julia Campistany