Paulo and Mayka

You won’t find two people as flexible as Paulo and Mayka and their Circus Zanzara. If it is a contribution with one of their acts, the hire out of their entire circus, the making of customary performances, renting out their circus tent solely (tribune or decorations) or the complete organization of a festivity… they’ll make it work! Over the years our professional manner, as well as our characteristic atmosphere with a nostalgic touch, and the flexibility towards our clients has become our trademark.

“Papa en Mama”

They are the Papa and Mama of the circus. They weld the entrance, write this booklet, sew the curtains and mind their grandson Dorus. She was once a puppeteer and he a carpenter / furniture maker. Skills that come in handy when running a circus. Later on they became street artists, the sort of whom bookers said ‘put them anywhere: they’ll manage’. And that’s how it goes. It is a golden duo that fits together and has a lot of stories to show it. They know that one way or another there will always be new chances and possibilities.

They have worked at big international circuses, musicals, circus ballets and operas for years. In 1990 however, Paulo and Mayka, having a wealth of experience in their pockets decided to work for themselves. This was done accordingly. The smallest circus of the Netherlands was born. Not downright circus, but circus-theatre. The duo has a broad interpretation of the term ‘circus’. They work with animals and in their performances they are most versatile. Besides circus and circus-theatre they do street theatre, entertainment, entre acts, puppet theatre, stage acts and teach all ages in different aspects of circus. Mayka does a fairytale like puppet theatre, is an actress and acrobat, and also knows her way in the world of dressage. In her entre acts she is assertive, captivating, talkative and cheeky, but she’s also a sweetheart.

Originally, Paulo is a carpenter, but like Mayka he has an array of talents.

In his role of mime clown he is inept, clumsy, measured and unfathomable. This same Paulo is on the other hand also the smirking slicker in a shiny suit, a loose-limbed acrobat and an excellent horse trainer. Paulo and Mayka make circus theatre simply because they like it. Theatre for grown-ups which is accessible for children, as well as theatre for children in which grown ups can indulge completely.

For the most part their work consists of family performances, but they are well liked by adult audiences as well. They are regular performers at business events, presentations and trainings, group trainings, congresses and meetings. They are familiar with teambuilding, workshops, and theatre projects as well. Furthermore, they know how to organize big projects. In 1995 they organized a four day long indoor street theatre festival called ‘t Joaruut with many circus and circus-theatre elements in the market halls of Doetinchem.

Deze productie bevatte een rijk scala aan theaterdisciplines zoals circus, zang, toneel, poëzie dressuur, en luchtacrobatiek. Voor deze producties kregen ze veel steun van verschillende Subsidiënten waaronder: "Fonds van de podiumkunsten" het "Anjerfonds", "Het Schipholfonds" en diverse provincies.

The above production contained a whole range of theatre disciplines like circus, singing / vocals, theatre, poetry, dressage and air-acrobatic. For these productions they received a great amount of support from different subsidizers including: the Fund for Performing Arts (Fonds van de podiumkunsten), the Anjer-fund (Anjerfonds), the Schiphol-fund (Schipholfonds) and various provinces.

Not downright circus, but circus-theatre

About the future

Nowadays they’ve both come to an age that the train tickets have become cheaper. From sixty on already people have the privilege, however Paulo & Mayka do not travel by train much. They do learn to delegate more and more to the youth. A practical thing, because they have beautiful winter quarters where they can spend at least ten more years of refining. Keeping bees, building toilet wagons, performing puppet shows and lots of other hobbies of the kind. Other than that they are forming big plans for later when…

In the future Paulo and Mayka’s circus and circus theatre projects will mainly be performed under the name ‘Circus Zanzara’ while their street theatre, puppet theatre, and other entertainment will be under the name ‘Paulo and Mayka’. The artist couple has also become competent in and has cooperated on acrobatic shows, fire shows, acrobatic acts and many of their acts are of comical nature. Furthermore, they rent out their tent, named Bigtop, with its accompanying stand.