Circusnext 2025 laureate project — A handcrafted, poetic and joyfully absurd circus piece, where objects come to life like in a dream machine. The Mechanics of a Dream Machine is a playful and poetic journey into the world of juggling, objects and imagination.

On stage, three performers in blue workwear tinker, manipulate, divert and repair a strange dream machine. Objects come to life, gestures become images, and balances turn into small stories: a rocket to the moon, dancing clouds, a rainbow, cymbals, confetti, a cactus on trial…

Combining juggling, music, object theatre and handcrafted stage effects, the performance unfolds as a series of funny, absurd and sensitive fragments. Like a miniature circus built before our eyes, The Mechanics of a Dream Machine invites audiences of all ages to look at everyday objects differently, and to be surprised by their poetic power.

The artists will be in residence at CIAM throughout the week to continue the creative development of the project. This is the first stage of David Martin’s research process Metaphoric Objects — Circusnext 2025 laureate.

With David Martin, Simon Malmsten and Mirco Morreale

Friday 13 November 2026 — 7:30 pm

Free admission — Duration: approximately 45 minutes

For all audiences, ages 5 and up
At CIAM’s Magic Mirrors, 4181 route de Galice, Aix-en-Provence