REFLEX

One of the world’s most outstanding jugglers, Jay Gilligan, tackles the theme of gravity in a story about space travel, the history of juggling, and what makes something an art form.

Reflex is a theatrical circus experience told through stories, performed in English, by American juggler Jay Gilligan. Reflex builds an unlikely but beautiful relationship between mankind’s ambitions to explore space and the art of juggling. The performance is based on NASA’s Voyager crafts, Golden Record, and the astronomer Carl Sagan. 

These stories are from Gilligan’s 40-year career as he looks for his own place in the history of his craft, and while searching for meaning by throwing objects through space, he includes our universe in the juggling itself. Using varied object manipulation techniques ranging from the ancient to the avant garde, Gilligan creates stunning soundscapes and vivid images that stir the sense of cosmic connection within all of us.

Reflex originally premiered Off-Broadway in New York City in 2022 and is a collaboration with Hideaway Circus and director Frodo Santini.

Jay Gilligan has performed in 38 different countries, touring solo work and collaborating with companies such as Spiegelworld, The Gandini Juggling Project, Cie Jérôme Thomas, Les 7 doigts de la main, Cirkus Cirkör, and Cirque du Soleil. He is the former head teacher of juggling at the Dans och Cirkushögskolan in Stockholm (2000-2019), Sweden, and has been a guest instructor at every major circus school in the world. He published a book about contemporary juggling titled 5 Catches and collaborated on Object Episodes a podcast focused on juggling as an art form. Gilligan has been awarded the most gold medals ever in the history of the International Jugglers’ Association. He has done a command performance for the Queen of England, and been a special guest performer on America’s Got Talent. He has previously shared two world records for juggling the most amount of objects between two people.

Performer: Jay Gilligan (USA)

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1st-5th Feb, 2025

Tickets from: Oulu Culture Centre Valve, Ticketmaster.fi

Tickets: 25/20/15 € 

Performances in Oulu Culture Centre Valve, Hallituskatu 7

Age recommendation: adults and youth 8+

Duration: 45 min.

Photos: Hans Vera