Playground. A chinese pole show with acrobatics, theater, dance, and absurd humor
Miguel Rubio’s Playground is a moody, warm solo acrobatic show with a Chinese pole. To succeed, he needs the physical and emotional help of the audience, who become a key part of the performance. The show requires active participation from the spectators, who physically support the set design, including an 8-meter-high Chinese pole. The relationship between the audience and the artist is central, as the structure cannot hold without them. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and sunshine in your heart.
Duration
45 minutes (maximum of two performances per day).
Public
Suitable for all ages.
Key Setup Information
Show designed for outdoor and indoor (mast height 6m) settings.
- Space required: Circular area of 10×10 meters (minimum 6×6 meters), with a minimum height of 8 meters.
- Surface conditions: Smooth, flat, and even.
- Setup/teardown time: 1 hour each.
- Dossier Playground.
- Technical Sheet Playground.
Videos of Playground
Playground: A comic show that relies on the audience to stay afloat
Do artists depend on their audience? Of course they do, this is the way it is; without spectators, there would be no shows, and vice versa. But… can they depend physically? Playground is a comic and absurd show that reaches up to 8 meters in height. A blend of disciplines with Chinese pole, dance, theater, and humor flows to integrate many surprises in a tragicomedy about unexpected events.
This is the challenge for Miguel Rubio. His performance depends on the people who choose to support it with their gaze and physical presence, sitting on 8 chairs that are part of the set design. The people in whom he places his trust will truly feel that the success of the structure, which reaches 8 meters, depends on them in order to stay afloat throughout the show.
Acrobatic show full of excitement in Playground
Everyone can become an actor or actress in this performance.
The stage transforms into a vast and inclusive playground.
With very little, just through his warm and natural connection, this Pierrot lunaire takes the audience on a little cloud of tender and elegant innocence.
Acrobatic show in images of Playground. Art on a chinese pole
What the public says about Playground
The fact of avoiding the weights by involving the public and that allows to have a light show. It was very nice. The clown character was really funny.
I really liked the show, very tender. And when all the kids arrive it’s as emotional as it is fun. It’s a great show. I loved it.
Go see it, that’s it. But you have to look up because it happens a little bit in the air. Very impressive. Very humorous.
Acrobatics Show on Chinese Pole, also performed indoors
Indoor Space Requirements
- The pole is 6 meters high.
- For safety, an additional minimum height of 2 meters is required.
- The floor must be smooth, flat, and even.
Awards Won by Playground
- Deuxième Prix du Public. Festival MIMOS 2022. Perigueux, France.
- Prix Amplion Argentum. Festival Amplifier 2022. Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia.
- Prix du Jury. Festival Les Tailleurs 2019. ‘Ecaussinnes,Belgium.
- Premier Prix. Gentse Feesten 2018. Gand, Belgium.
Technical details Playground
- Show for all public.
- Duration of the show: 45 minutes, 2 possible representations per day.
- Minimal space required: 6×6 meters, height 8 meters.
- Circular stage.
- Straight, smooth, flat ground and regular.
- Total dimension with the public space 10×10 meters.
- Installation Chinese Pole: autonomous.
- Installation time: 1 hour.
- Dismantling time: 1 hour.
Information Playground
- Concept, dramaturgy and staging: Miguel Rubio.
- External look: Nacho Atienza.
- Scenography: Miguel Rubio.
- Administration: Lucile Rouxel.
- Diffusion: Noe Iglesias and Oriane Hoog. Nacho Vilar Producciones diffusion in Spain.
- Production: Collectif Primavez.
Playground uses its own patented Chinese pole anchoring system.
It uses a patented Chinese pole anchoring system that ensures stability and autonomy in the installation. Each pole requires the participation of 8 people, whose chairs are part of the support, physically contributing to the maintenance of the structure. This interaction makes the show immersive, actively involving the audience in the performance.
More Videos of Playground
FAQ about Playground
Who is the artist Miguel Rubio?
Miguel began learning juggling on his own in 2005. In 2009, he expanded his training with courses in physical theater, clowning, and magic before joining the Carampa Circus School in Madrid, where he specialized in trapeze and acrobatic lifts.
In 2005, he premiered his solo show Into the Fire, which won an award at the Málaga Street Arts Festival in 2009 and led him to tour across five continents. In 2015, he completed his training at CRAC in Lomme-Lille, specializing in Chinese pole duo, and joined Gilles Defacque’s company, collaborating with them for six years. That same year, he founded Collectif Primavez.
Since its creation, Primavez has presented various productions: Cabaret Primavez (2015), the Chinese pole duo Laisse-moi (2017), and the solo show Playground (2019), which has won awards at festivals such as Gentse Feesten (2018), Les Tailleurs (2019), Festival Mimos (2022), and Amplion Festival (2022).
How does the artist interact with the audience, and how does this impact the development of the acrobatic performance?
Playground is a unique acrobatic show that blends poetry, burlesque, and aerial acrobatics in an autonomous and family-friendly format.
With a Chinese pole and an innovative anchoring system that requires the participation of 8 people, audience involvement becomes an essential part of the performance.
A participatory show where the audience has the opportunity to take the stage, take on a role, and accompany Miguel Rubio in this playground where risk, tenderness, and humor coexist.
Technical and logistical requirements for this Chinese pole acrobatic show
Space: Must be protected from noise disturbances for optimal listening conditions.
– Chinese pole height: 6 meters.
– Without an audience: 6 meters x 6 meters.
– With seated audience: 10 meters x 10 meters.
– Minimum height: 7 meters.
– Optimal height: 8 meters.
– Surface: Straight, smooth, flat, and even ground.
– 4 anchoring points (per pole) provided by the company.
– Ideal setup: allowing good 360° visibility.
Weather conditions: No nighttime performances if there is high humidity. A change of time or venue may be considered if the temperature exceeds 30°C (to be discussed with the company).
Audience:
– Capacity for 500 people. If this limit is exceeded, please contact the company.
– The use of bleachers, carpeting, and/or cushions is recommended to enhance comfort and visibility (provided by the organizer).
– Inclusive show accessible to people with disabilities. Possibility of audio description of the performance (to be discussed with the company).
Touring personnel: 2 – 3 people.
Special requirements when traveling by plane
– Provide 8 folding chairs.
– Provide a 1.5m x 1m carpet (not mandatory, consult with the company).
– Set design luggage: 2 suitcases of 23 kg (one measuring 23 cm x 23 cm x 200 cm; oversized luggage) and 1 carry-on bag of 10 kg.
