Cirque Mechanics Zephyr

An emotive and exhilarating tale about human ingenuity and our natural resources. In Zephyr – A Whirlwind of Circus by Cirque Mechanics, audiences will witness the tug of war that exists between man and nature, in the name of progress.

Humans have been harnessing the power of the wind for thousands of years. The beauty and efficacy of that timeless and ingenious process inspired the creative team at Cirque Mechanics to create Zephyr, a theatrical circus show that harnesses human power, instead of wind, to generate an energetic acrobatic experience.

Cirque Mechanics has designed and built a performance windmill to serve as the multifunctional mechanical centerpiece of our story. Mounted on a turntable, the windmill combinesboth modern and older more picturesque elements – with the transformation from one aspect to another providing a change of scenery in real time.

Inspired by a visit to a working windmill in central England, Zephyr (which means gentle breeze from the Greek god of the west wind Zephyrus) tells the story of Nigel, mill owner and operator, and his complicated relationship with wind, the natural resource that powers his flour mill. His reliance on wind is tested and in turn he is lured by fuel in the name of progress as his primary energy source. His choices cause elation and disruption, aptly represented by the community the mill serves as dynamic and lyrical circus acts. Nigel grapples with tough choices and unintended outcomes with humor and optimism, which lead to acceptance, coexistence and balance with