Flic Flac
The Circus Flic Flac shows a show with elements of acrobatics , stunts and slapstick , which is implemented on a stage. It was founded in 1989 by the brothers Benno and Lothar Kastein in Bocholt .
General
The founders Benno and Lothar Kastein are former artists . It was named after the English spelling of the gymnastics exercise Flickflack . The world premiere took place on October 5th, 1989 in Oberhausen .
In 2010 the company temporarily ceased touring. Flic Flac then concentrated on so-called "special events", such as the annual festival of the best artists in Kassel, as well as the parallel Christmas circuses in Nuremberg and Dortmund. Since then, holding annual, simultaneous Christmas shows has become an established tradition. In the following years, programs were carried out in Saarbrücken, Aachen, Bielefeld, Mönchengladbach and Duisburg.
In 2012 Flic Flac entered into a cooperation with Grandezza Entertainment GmbH, a subsidiary of DEAG , and has been touring regularly since 2013.
The sisters Larissa Medved-Kastein and Tatjana Kastein took over the management of the Flic Flac Tour in March 2019.
show
The makers of Flic Flac rely on a show that is implemented with a high technical effort. So there is no ring , but a stage. Acrobatics , stunts , satire and slapstick in connection with musical accompaniment are elements of the program. The numbers include the “Wheel of Death” and the “Globe of Speed”. The wheel of death made the circus famous. This is a steel structure that is suspended from its axis and rotates around it. At each end there is a cylinder open to the side in which the artists move. At the highest point of the turn, the artist almost reaches the tent ceiling. Flic Flac refrains from animal training , with one exception in 1991. In that year the German comedian and clown Florin was engaged with his dogs Cato and Timpetu.
| Regular tours | Premiere place | From | To | Last place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not just any circus | Oberhausen | 5th October 1989 | 1990 | |
| Nameless tour | 1991 | 1992 | ||
| Bottomless | 1993 | 1994 | ||
| Merciless | 1995 | 1996 | ||
| Just a matter of nerves | Bocholt | 1997 | 2000 | |
| virus | Darmstadt | February 2001 | 2002 | |
| Uncensored | eat | February 13, 2003 | 2004 | |
| New Art | Krefeld | February 24, 2005 | January 14, 2007 | Frankfurt am Main |
| No limits! | Dortmund | March 9, 2007 | January 15, 2008 | kassel |
| Underground | Goettingen | February 4, 2008 | February 28, 2009 | Wetzlar |
| ART-appropriate | Koblenz | March 4, 2010 | June 27, 2010 | Oberhausen |
| EXXTREM - Because they know what they are doing! | Hanover | 20th February 2013 | December 8, 2013 | Berlin |
| Maximum sentence - 25 years of Flic Flac | Oberhausen | 5th October 2014 | 19th February 2017 | Berlin |
| BEST of - the new show | Minden | March 30, 2017 | 2nd July 2017 | Bochum |
| Colorless | Saarbrücken | August 24, 2017 | January 7, 2018 | Dortmund |
| PUNXXX - 30 years - not just any circus ... | Minden | 4th April 2019 | March 13, 2020 | Karlsruhe |
Christmas shows & winter shows
From December 2009 to January 2010 Flic Flac started the "Festival of the Best Artists" for the first time, which is to take place annually in Kassel . This event will be held in the form of a competition and prizes will be advertised. At the same time, the audience takes on the role of the jury.
Winner of the Festival of the Best Artists
| festival | 1st place (15,000 €) | 2nd place (10,000 €) | 3rd place (€ 5,000) |
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| 10th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 9th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 8th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 7th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 6th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 5th Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 4th Festival of the best artists |
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| 3rd Festival of the Best Artists |
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| 2. Festival of the best artists |
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| 1st Festival of the Best Artists |
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Even after the circus had temporarily ceased regular operations in 2010, this festival continued to be held, although there was no permanent staffing. At the end of 2011 further Christmas shows were added in Nuremberg and Dortmund . In 2012, in addition to the Kassel and Dortmund locations , Saarbrücken instead of Nuremberg was also played.
List of Christmas shows & winter shows:
| Flic Flac Christmas shows | place | From | To | imaginations | spectator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | December 17, 2009 | January 10, 2010 | ||
| 2. Festival of the best artists | kassel | December 16, 2010 | January 9, 2011 | 60,000 | |
| "Shrill night, urgent night" | Dortmund | December 20, 2011 | January 15, 2012 | 50,000 | |
| 3rd Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | December 15, 2011 | January 8, 2012 | ||
| X-Mas Circus | Nuremberg | December 16, 2011 | January 15, 2012 | ||
| "Highlig evening!" | Dortmund | December 18, 2012 | January 6, 2013 | ||
| 4th Festival of the best artists | kassel | December 20, 2012 | January 13, 2013 | 50,000 | |
| "Shrill night, urgent night" | Saarbrücken | December 20, 2012 | January 6, 2013 | 42,000 | |
| "Highlig evening!" | Aachen | December 21, 2013 | January 6, 2014 | 40,000 | |
| "Nice Firetage!" | Dortmund | 18th December 2013 | 5th January 2014 | 45,000 | |
| 5th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 20th December 2013 | January 12, 2014 | 55,000 | |
| "Wild X-Mas" | Nuremberg | 18th December 2013 | January 6, 2014 | 40,000 | |
| "Nice Firetage!" | Aachen | 19th December 2014 | 4th January 2015 | ||
| "Wild X-Mas" | Bielefeld | 17th December 2014 | 4th January 2015 | 40,000 | |
| "S'Pott on!" | Dortmund | December 18, 2014 | 4th January 2015 | 51,000 | |
| 6th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 19th December 2014 | January 11, 2015 | 56,000 | |
| "Wild X-Mas - Shrill night, urgent night" | Bielefeld | December 18, 2015 | January 3, 2016 | 30th | 41,000 |
| 5. Christmas circus in the district | Dortmund | December 18, 2015 | January 10, 2016 | 51,000 | |
| 7th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | December 18, 2015 | January 10, 2016 | 45 | 61,000 |
| X-mas show | Nuremberg | 17th December 2015 | January 10, 2016 | 43 | 63,000 |
| X-Mas-Show Bielefeld - "Contemplative is different" | Bielefeld | December 22, 2016 | January 8, 2017 | 32 | 28,000 |
| X-Mas Show - "Goosebumps instead of roast goose" | Dortmund | December 16, 2016 | January 8, 2017 | 45 | 52,000 |
| 8th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 15th December 2016 | January 8, 2017 | 47 | 62,000 |
| X-Mas Show Mönchengladbach | Mönchengladbach | 17th December 2016 | January 8, 2017 | 44 | |
| Xmas show Bielefeld - Ready or not - Xmas is coming | Bielefeld | December 21, 2017 | January 7, 2018 | 33 | 41,000 |
| X-Mas-Show Dortmund | Dortmund | December 21, 2017 | January 7, 2018 | 33 | 41,000 |
| X-Mas-Show Duisburg - shift 1 | Duisburg | 19th December 2017 | December 31, 2017 | 24 | |
| 9th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 20th December 2017 | January 14, 2018 | 49 | |
| X-Mas Show Nuremberg | Nuremberg | December 21, 2017 | January 14, 2018 | 47 | 74,000 |
| X-Mas Show Bielefeld | Bielefeld | 20th December 2018 | January 6, 2019 | 32 | |
| X-Mas-Show Colorless Dortmund | Dortmund | December 18, 2018 | January 6, 2019 | 41 | 53,000 |
| 10th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 20th December 2018 | January 13, 2019 | 47 | 64,000 |
| X-Mas Show Nuremberg | Nuremberg | 22nd December 2018 | January 13, 2019 | 51 | |
| Winter Show Colorless Duisburg | Duisburg | January 10, 2019 | January 27, 2019 | 24 | |
| X-Mas-Show PUNXXX Bielefeld | Bielefeld | 19th December 2019 | 5th January 2020 | ||
| X-Mas-Show Dortmund | Dortmund | 19th December 2019 | January 6, 2020 | 34 | |
| 11th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 18th December 2019 | January 12, 2020 | 49 | |
| X-Mas Show Nuremberg | Nuremberg | 20th December 2019 | January 12, 2020 | 49 | |
| Winter show PUNXXX Duisburg | Duisburg | January 10, 2020 | January 26, 2020 | 24 | |
| X-Mas Show Bielefeld | Bielefeld | 17th December 2020 | January 3, 2021 | 36 | |
| X-Mas-Show PUNXXX Dortmund | Dortmund | 4th December 2020 | January 10, 2021 | 56 | |
| 12th Festival of the Best Artists | kassel | 17th December 2020 | January 10, 2021 | 48 | |
| X-Mas Show Nuremberg | Nuremberg | December 16, 2020 | January 10, 2021 | 58 | |
| Winter Show Duisburg | Duisburg | January 9, 2021 | January 24, 2021 | 24 |
- Dortmund, X-MAS-SHOW 2018
Special shows
Flic Flac started a special program on December 6, 2008 in Saarbrücken. The "Dinner Show" [1] combines artistry, comedy and a big band with a multi-course menu. The gastronomic management was the responsibility of the Michelin star and TV chef Alexander Kunz (Restaurant Kunz) from St. Wendel-Bliesen. [2]
In 2018 Flic Flac presented a pure comedy program in Berlin.
Lineup of the special shows:
| Flic Flac special shows | place | From | To | imaginations | spectator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just fun! (Flic Flac Dinershow) | Saarbrücken | December 6, 2008 | January 11, 2009 | ||
| Freaks | Berlin | 1st March 2018 | April 29, 2018 | 52 | |
| The Greatest Comedian Freakshow (Show from 18 years) | Berlin | October 28, 2020 | November 15, 2020 | 21st |
music
The circus uses an unconventional music program for its programs. In the first few years, songs by Billy Idol , The Prodigy , Apollo Four Forty and others could be heard. The musical accompaniment tended more and more towards rock and heavy metal. From 1999 the Berlin musician Samuel Beck, alias Luchtenbeck, took over the musical direction, who produced several pieces especially for the circus. The band OUCH! played live. The attraction was turning upside down the entire music stage with instruments and musicians. In 2001 this band re-formed under the name Paternoster. In 2004 this lineup was reduced again, so that only individual musicians on drums, vocals and flute played to pre-composed music.
The music for the tour "No Limits" (2007) consisted largely of songs by Rammstein . There were also individual pieces, such as by the Böhsen Onkelz, but also original compositions, in a Rammstein-like style, which were recorded by the tape.
Since 2009 the circus has been working with rock singer Frank Fabry, who is supported live by his band in some shows. The show ARTrechte took place in 2010. In the role of the dark villain and representative of the black side, Fabry led through the program with song and language. Opposed to him was an artist who at the same time represented the “good, bright” side with operatic singing. Fabry had other assignments as master of ceremonies in the tour of 2013, as well as at the Dortmund Christmas shows in 2011 and 2015, again supported by a soprano last year. Another band was put together by Samuel Beck for the Höchststrafe tour, with Caro Kunde as the singer.
In the previous show Colorless there was music from Luchtenbeck again, but without a live part. The drummer Romain Vicente is part of the current show PUNXXX.
Companies
Around 180 people travel with Circus Flic Flac, including around 50 artists and their families. Around 90 employees such as tent masters, technicians, props, musicians and office staff take care of the organizational process.
Since it was founded, several companies have been in direct contact with the circus, and they often changed their headquarters.
- Circus Flic Flac GmbH : This is still the actual parent company today. Founded in 1989, the company initially had its head office in Isselburg , near the hometown of Bocholt . In the early years, parts of the circus also stayed here when it was not on tour. The winter quarters in Borken , also near Bocholt, have existed since 1998. There is a larger warehouse on the site, which is not only suitable for storing material, but also for carrying out repairs to the circus equipment. The company's regular headquarters have also been located there since 2010. Circus Flic Flac GmbH is the sole owner of all equipment and materials. Officially, it only rents these to the subsidiaries.
- Kaiser & Kastein Circus- und Variete Produktions-GmbH: In 2001 the first attempt was made to split the business into this newly founded subsidiary, which therefore took over the main business of direct circus management. The first company headquarters was in Dassel , but in 2003 it was relocated to Norderfriedrichskoog in the district of North Friesland . Just one year later, the company was closed in bankruptcy proceedings.
- B / K Circus GmbH : As Kaiser & Kastein Circus- und Variete Produktions-GmbH was threatened with bankruptcy, this successor company was founded in 2003. Initially based in Bochum , the company headquarters were moved back to Norderfriedrichskoog in 2005 and then to Borken in 2010. Finally, all business was taken over again by Circus Flic Flac GmbH. Since September 2013 the company has merged with the parent company.
- Flic Flac Dinner Show GmbH : This subsidiary was founded in Isselburg in 2008 especially for the dinner show. It was also initially relocated to Borken in 2010, in order to be merged with the parent company in 2013.
- FF Tournee GmbH : This joint subsidiary was founded by Flic Flac and Grandezza in Essen in2012and only organized the 2013 tour. Since January 15, 2015, Flic Flac is no longer a partner in this company, which has also been renamed and now have a lot of fun GmbH is called.
- Flic Flac Event GmbH : This is also a company that was originally founded in 2012 together with Grandezza. As in the case of FF Tournee GmbH, the first company headquarters was in Essen. In 2016, the company's headquarters were relocated twice. So they first moved to Haan , but in October 2016 this company also arrived in Borken. Furthermore, Grandezza is no longer a shareholder. All special events now fall into the scope of this company.
- LK Circus GmbH : In February 2014 Lothar Kastein founded this company, which, like the parent company, is based in Borken. His area of responsibility was only to organize the Christmas events in Bielefeld. The company has been inactive since 2019.
- Flic Flac Tour GmbH : It was founded in October 2014 by Benno Kastein in Borken, with the aim of again splitting up the business. From 2015 to 2017 she was responsible for the organization and implementation of the regular tour operations. From 2017 she was used to organize the Christmas show in Duisburg. In 2018 the company was converted into Flic Flac Verwaltungs GmbH.
- Flic Flac Verwaltungs GmbH : Until 2016, the internal administration was only done in a mobile office during the tour. However, due to the company's expansion, this could no longer provide the necessary capacities. A central office was therefore set up in Duisburg in 2016, from where most of the administrative work has been carried out since then. The former Flic Flac Tour GmbH was renamed to Flic Flac Verwaltungs GmbH in mid-2018, its headquarters officially relocated to Duisburg and now runs this office. The mobile tour office still exists, however, in order to be able to do smaller jobs quickly and directly on site.
- FF Tour GmbH: The youngest Flic-Flac subsidiary was founded in June 2017 (Borken) and has been taking over the regular shows since the colorless tour.
In the same year, the company Eventworks from Oldenburg was commissioned as an external partner to organize the Christmas circus 2014 in Aachen .
In 2003 Benno Kastein temporarily took over the management of the Circus Flic Flac completely, since his brother Lothar founded the Circus 180 Grad . For this purpose, Lothar Kastein designed a new type of tent of an unusual shape, which is only fixed with the help of weights and therefore does not require any tent anchors. however, the new circus ran into financial difficulties several times. Since then, Lothar Kastein has been working for Flic Flac again, for example taking promotional photos and designing the official website. In other respects, too, he now mainly takes on organizational tasks. In spring 2008 he replaced Juri Kaiser as managing director of B / K Circus GmbH . Benno Kastein took over the job in 2010. In August 2010, the management sold a large part of the wagons, semi-trailers and props. Tents were also up for sale for a short time.
Larissa & Tatjana Kastein took over the management on February 1, 2019.
Tents
Time and again, the company had special tents made by a manufacturer from Italy . Various interior fittings such as the stage, rows of seats and lighting systems, on the other hand, were manufactured in Bocholt . The company owns five larger 4-mast tents, another small tent (specially made for the earlier Flic Flac Dinner Show, but is only used as an awning today), was also used for freaks in 2018, and a special 8-pole Mast tent with an elongated stage. The latter was previously only required for the tours “No Limits” (2007), “Exxtrem” (2013) and the Christmas show in Nuremberg (2015/2016). Due to the design, larger car and motorcycle stunts can be carried out in this tent. For the 2013 Christmas program in Aachen , the circus bought the former theater tent for the musical Cats as a fourth 4-mast tent. In December 2014 the fifth 4-mast tent was finally put into operation. Since March 2017, a new tent has been used for the regular tour, which is constructed entirely without internal masts. Instead, the tent is supported by two outer steel arches from which it is suspended. This construction prevents obstruction of view in the tent.
A tent is rented for the Xmas Show Duisburg 2017.
The theater tent was rented to Vom Geist der Weihnacht in 2015 .
Documentation
- ARD morning magazine: October 12-16, 2009
- Tatjana Kastein on Sat 1 Breakfast TV: Dream job as an artist - April 2008
- Flic Flac - premiere fever. (2007) stern TV for VOX (Director: Stephan Guntli )
- Flic Flac - A circus is moving. N24 report
- Flic Flac - A circus of extremes (first broadcast February 14, 2015) N24 report
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Circus "Flic Flac" stops touring . In: Südkurier from June 23, 2010
- ↑ DEAGs Grandezza Entertainment becomes a partner of Circus FlicFlac ( Memento from February 11, 2013 in the web archive archive.today )
- ↑ 2013 EXXTREM on tour: FlicFlac is back! ( Memento from December 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Handelsblatt dated December 24, 2018: Two sisters take over the thrill business at the Flic Flac circus