About the performance

Motus murmuri presents The Idle Hour, a creation by Samuel Rhyner in collaboration with William Blenkin.

The Idle Hour is a non-verbal contemporary circus performance that explores the tension between the frenzy imposed by modern society and the need to slow down. On a minimalist stage dominated by a human-sized hamster wheel, two acrobats with contrasting personalities—one frantic, the other calm—navigate a series of interactions blending acrobatics, dance, and sound. The wheel serves as both a symbol and an instrument of their existential struggle: a metaphor for the endless race toward an elusive happiness.

The Idle Hour invites the audience to reflect on the search for meaning and the possibility of finding calm within chaos.

The creation has a two-year development timeline, followed by an international tour starting in 2026. The premiere will take place in Monthey in Switzerland on April 11, followed by the Dutch premiere in Rotterdam in May and the Belgian premiere in Leuven.

Credits

Concept, Sound Creation, and Direction: Samuel Rhyner
Performance: Samuel Rhyner and William Blenkin
External Eye: Luuk Brantjes, Britt Timmermans
Musical Advice: Pierrick Bacher
Set Design Construction: Arjan Kruidthof
Choreographic Advice: Pia Meuthen
Costume Advice: Menno Boerdam
Lighting Creation: Eligio Membrez
Photography: Lily Schlinker
Videos: (in progress)
Technician: Jef Delva
Administration: Melanie Lamon
Production: Motus murmuri

Coproduction

With the support of the Fonds culturel de la Société Suisse des Auteurs (SSA) and ProCirque (CH), Pourcent-
culturel Migros (CH), Espace Parallèle (St-Maurice, CH), Quartier Culturel Malévoz (Monthey, CH), Mira miro
(Gent, BE), Circuswerkplaats Dommelhof (Neerpelt, BE), Cirklabo (Leuven, BE), Korzo
Theater (Den Haag, NL), Panama Pictures (’s Hertogenbosch, NL), Circusstad Festival (Rotterdam, NL).