‘Shake it and see what happens’: the confounding world of James Thierrée
The circus star turns singer in his new show, Room, which is designed to embrace chaos. He talks about the mystery of theatre and his movie missions
March 2022
Room review – chaos reigns as circus superstar James Thierrée climbs the walls
Thierrée plays an architect whose building won’t behave and a director whose performers don’t listen in a playful if disjointed production
April 2019
Pinch yourself: Aurélia Thierrée perfects the art of the steal on stage
Bells and Spells casts the French star as a kleptomaniac in a performance that leaves the audience guessing
January 2018
Chainsaw juggling, human cannonballs and Coco the Clown! The astounding 250-year story of circus
When was the first trapeze performance? Who launched ‘the greatest show on Earth’? And which showman was celebrated in song by the Beatles? Here’s a history of circus in 25 moments
August 2016
The Toad Knew review – a grand illusion
The Toad Knew review – James Thierrée's seductive wonder-world
July 2016
James Thierrée: 'Baryshnikov told me to get used to pain. It's part of a dancer's life'
As he prepares to take his latest spectacular to the Edinburgh festival, the performer talks about the ‘magic box’ of theatre, listening to frogs’ secrets and playing an acrobatic Ariel for Peter Greenaway
June 2016
Theatre blog
Edinburgh festival 2016: what to see and where to go
The fringe programme is out today – so here’s a venue-by-venue look at some of this year’s highlights across the Edinburgh festival
May 2016
Summer arts preview 2016
Curtain-raisers: the best theatre of summer 2016
Branagh channels Olivier, Isabelle Huppert lusts after her stepson and Ralph Fiennes gets the royal hump. Meanwhile there’s magic in the air as Harry Potter grows up – and Groundhog Day is reborn as a musical
January 2015
Tabac Rouge review – Thierrée show physically brilliant, emotionally cold
Sydney festival 2015 James Thierrée returns with a dark piece of physical theatre about corrupting power and a Lear-like king obsessed with his image – shame the show is too, writes Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore
December 2014
Sydney festival: Camille O’Sullivan’s favourite things
Camille O’Sullivan returns to the Famous Spiegeltent for Sydney festival to perform her latest album Changeling. The singer reveals her festival highlights and those things she’s most looking forward to experiencing in Sydney
October 2014
Australia culture blog
Sydney festival 2015 'more than just a summer party', artistic director says
Lieven Bertels says the 2015 programme challenges ideas of what the festival should look like, starting with a plus-sized dance performance, Nothing to Lose
May 2014
GuardianWitness assignments
Theatre mementos - share your pictures
Have you ever taken home a theatre memento beyond the standard programme and ticket? Share your pictures and tell us what you thought of the show
March 2014
Tabac Rouge review – 'dramatic effects in search of an idea'
Tabac Rouge review – Away from circus, towards dance … a weird beauty
Life's a circus: James Thiérrée's crackpot stage creations - in pictures
James Thiérrée: the years of a clown
October 2009
What to see this week
What to see: Lyn Gardner's theatre tips
Beckett's Endgame leads a solid showing of classic revivals across the country, and booking is recommended for London's grown-up puppetry festival
December 2007
Theatre blog
2007's theatrical feast
I loved Lee Hall's The Pitman Painters and Punchdrunk's Masque of the Red Death. What were your productions of the year?
October 2007
A big pair of shoes to fill
Charlie Chaplin's grandson is carrying on a rich family tradition. But he doesn't see it that way, he tells Lyndsey Winship.
