Le Cirque de la Nuit is rolling its circus back into Calgary with an enhanced production of The Time Machinist. The show, which first premiered in 2023, has received a Canada Council Grant to tour Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Before hitting the road, it will be remounted at the Grand theatre from May 22 through 24.
From Dream to Reality
At age 13, Calgarian Justin Dale knew he wanted to be a circus performer. By 17, he was determined to attend the National Circus School in Montreal. His parents were supportive, but he admits he was so committed that he would have pursued it regardless. Dale had studied theatre, dance, and Taekwondo, but his true passion was acrobatics. It was at circus school that he discovered the Cyr wheel, a six-foot metal wheel that performers manipulate with their bodies.
Dale recalls: “There was this huge wheel in the corner that no one seemed interested in, so I decided to give it a try. It was a little like skateboarding or snowboarding. You end up being a human coin.” He went on to master wheel gymnastics, competing for Team Canada and becoming Cyr World Champion in 2016.
A New Chapter
After graduating, Dale joined Cirque du Soleil’s production of Corteo, touring Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2015, he co-founded Le Cirque de la Nuit. The company’s latest show, The Time Machinist, has been revamped with a new script and enhanced visual effects. “Everything from the dialogue to the visual effects has been improved,” says Dale, who co-wrote and directed the show.
The production transports audiences into the world of Owen Mittagen Vottenberg III, a self-proclaimed genius who showcases acrobats he has gathered during time-travel expeditions. Dale describes it as “high-flying circus acts, theatrical storytelling, and physical comedy,” featuring aerial skills, trapeze, Cyr wheel, acrobatics, hand balancing, unicycle, juggling, dance, and singing.
Unexpected Turn
The tour was originally planned for the Middle East, but cancellations due to military operations against Iran forced a change of plans. “We were meant to tour the Middle East, but the conflict ended that tour overnight,” Dale explains. Instead, the grant-funded tour will now focus on Canadian provinces.
While Dale will not perform in The Time Machinist, he will appear at this year’s Calgary Stampede on the BMO stage.
