Häppy Hour is an ode to the deep dark north and its social culture. It grapples with the contradictory relationship to alcohol, and explores the weird and awkward experiences that the northern nightlife has to offer. Interpreting it through the lens of contemporary circus and comedy, the different circus skills bend the barrier between seemingly normal and weirdly spectacular. Häppy Hour approaches real life situations through awkward humour, showing how things aren’t always that serious, and that it’s ok to laugh at ourselves, even at our worst.

The second show from the Nordic Council premiered in february 2024 in Dynamo Workspace, Odense. The creation is supported by Dynamo Workspace (DK), Tjarnarbíó (ISL), Nordic Culture Point, and Taike Arts Promotion Centre of Finland.

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Häppy Hour is a contemporary circus performance about the, at times, complicated relationship Northerners have to alcohol. The show is not a lecture, but a selection of tableaus that all allude to social contexts and situations that are relatable to the northern audience. Through these images the audience can recognise themselves or others around them in an environment where they won’t feel judged. The show will use circus techniques and comedy to alleviate the seriousness of the topic, and to create space for the audience to reflect on their own habits and traditions.

By combining circus disciplines such as juggling, and aerial rope with physical theatre and live music we aim to create scenes around these topics and images to evoke a feeling of self-recognition in the audience. ‘We’ve all been there’ is a feeling that permeates the performance, as the trio stumble their way through the scenes of the highs and lows of Nordic nightlife. Aiming to capture the feeling of these moments and abstracting them through circus, the show will allow the audience to fill in the gaps with their own experiences and relate to the material from a highly personal perspective.

Häppy Hour will be a one-hour contemporary circus performance including juggling, live music and acrobatics. The show is created for medium sized, black box venues, and will tour the Nordic region and mainland Europe. The show is aimed at adult audiences, but does not contain any material that makes it unsuitable for children. The show will be able to play in both tents and theatres.

The show reequires a performance space of 8x8m with a minimum height of 6.5m, and the possibility to rig an aerial rope a point with a minimum WLL of 400kg.

The show can be played with a frontal audience, or with a wider seating arrangement. The show requires a back stage area that can be accessed during the performance for costume changes and storing props.

We are now looking for venues and festivals for our tour 2025. If you are either, please get in touch with us (here)!