Circa: Wolf

Circa brings Wolf to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Wednesday, October 14, for a single night in Portland. The Brisbane-based company is one of Australia's most innovative contemporary circus troupes, and they're known for a style that trades props for people: instead of juggling clubs or rings, the performers toss and catch each other.

Wolf is a fierce, driving work that fuses acrobatics, aerial work and athletic dance into a single, unbroken force. The title comes from Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz's idea of the wolf as a symbol of our untamable selves—liberating and savage. Across two contrasting acts, the company moves from chaos to pack, from disruption to something that feels, against all odds, like belonging. The show runs to a driving electronic score by DJ Ori Lichtik, with hair-raising drops and flips, bright lights and bold patterned unitards. There are content warnings for flashing lights and high-intensity electronic music, and it's rated 6+.

Lifschitz, who is also the company's CEO, choreographed the piece and handled the stage design. The rest of the creative team includes costume designer Libby McDonnell and lighting designer Alex Berlage, with ten performers on stage. Lifschitz has directed more than 80 productions across circus, opera, physical theatre and large-scale live events, seen in more than 40 countries.

The performance is at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, which was once a grand movie palace and is now Portland's most elegant stage. The show starts at 7:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM. It runs 90 minutes with one intermission.