Zirkus Mond - Circus as Subculture
- Daniel Burow
- Mar 20
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Passing the train tracks of the Berlin S-Bahn, along an uneven dirt road, you pass one or two graffiti-covered vehicles that have already seen their best days. Through a door in the fence, you pass wooden shacks and cargo containers converted into bars, until you reach a blue-yellow, two-pole circus tent, with a moon emblem above its dome. Anyone who had never been to Circus Mond before usually asked for directions several times in its early years.
Nowadays, all you have to do is follow the crowd every weekend. In its seventh year of existence, Circus Mond has evolved from a crazy idea into a hotspot for Berlin artists and a staple in the capital's vibrant circus scene. Here, where Max Mohr and his friends have fulfilled their dream of an alternative circus idyll, circus is not only a show, but a subculture.
It's a story that could probably only be told in a city like Berlin. In the city's wild years, when illegal parties were a thing and club culture was emerging, a small collective of artists formed, including Max Mohr. They called themselves the "Kinder des Mondes" (children of the moon) and went to abandoned factory buildings to set up a stage for one night, invite everyone, and play a show, only to disappear again at dawn.
They performed as well in techno clubs like the well-known Sisyphos or outdoors in parks. One day, Max went to his friends from the Kreuzberg art venue and club "Jonny Knüppel" to borrow something for an event. They told him about a new space in Prenzlauer Berg that they wanted to check out. They asked if it might be something for his collective as well.
So, during a tour with 20 people, Max found himself on a brownfield next to the train tracks and had an inspiration: "I'd like to put a circus tent here." No sooner said than done: They bought a tent from the youth circus Cabuwazi, whose founder Karl Köckenberger he knew well, leveled the overgrown area, and set up the tent. Zirkus Mond was born.
Today, different shows take place here every weekend. It's a concept that no other circus follows, Max notes. And it allows numerous artists from the Berlin scene to find opportunities to perform. "If you have a spare week and have a great act, feel free to contact us," according to Max, this approach also keeps things exciting and diverse for his team. The result is a wild mix of classic circus acts, experimental contemporary productions, and a touch of Berlin's anything-goes extravaganza.
Two show formats provide the framework: In the show "Des Mondes Varietä", Max returns to the original and presents a program of acts, always with a pre-selected theme. At "Mond Cabaret," co-founder Juan Martinez develops a storyline and script each time, which he then uses to direct the show. The multi-talented Spanish artist has long since become a trademark of Zirkus Mond as a show presenter and “resident clown” with his charming and quirky manner. Additionally, Maria Dedio, Hamudi Danz, Valerio Bonsignori and Marlen Voigt belong to the constant team of Zirkus Mond.
In addition, young collectives are given the opportunity to perform their own shows at Zirkus Mond. The "Barbarian Barbies," for example, are regular guests, and the "Never Change a Running Circus" collective, founded by graduates of the Berlin state school of circus last year, gave the premiere of their show here. Clown legend Leo Bassi also comes almost every year.
Last winter, Zirkus Mond dared to run a show for an extended period for the first time. They ran a month-long Christmas show – with considerable success. They might continue the concept this year with a Halloween show. Both shows are self-produced.
The atmosphere is relaxed. While the performances initially took place in front of rows of chairs set up on the forest floor, today there's a grandstand with benches, bistro tables and a bar. The front row is formed by cushioned seating on the floor. After the shows, the tent regularly transforms into a place to relax, dance, and exchange the latest news from the Berlin circus community.
You can hear a lot of English in the tent; the community is international - and so is the circus itself. Branches have opened in Lisbon and Guadalajara, Mexico. They were set up by trusted friends with the support of Berlin's Zirkus Mond. The German team only provided start-up support, for example purchasing a tent for Lisbon. The locations are operated completely independently. "I think it would be great if we could spread the seeds of this subculture around the world," Max explains the goal. It's easier to make money in Germany than elsewhere. For example, the foreign projects were supported with income from Berlin.
A wooden scaffold in front of the tent provides a glimpse of what's next. A terrace is being built here, scheduled to open in time for the summer months to serve as a meeting place before the shows. An open grill is planned where everyone can prepare food they've brought along, and the Mond team will offer drinks. A new music system and more space should encourage people to arrive earlier before the shows. A crowdfunding campaign is currently underway to raise the funds (see link below the article).
So the dream continues to grow, even if it's constantly under the threat of a sword of Damocles. This, too, is a typical Berlin story: The site which, in addition to Zirkus Mond, houses twelve other collectives, from light installations to techno clubs, now belongs to an investor. The investor wants to build but hasn't yet been able to reach an agreement with the city. I ask Max if the uncertainty isn't making him doubt his expansion plans. "We're just going to do it anyway because you never know exactly how long it will last," he explains his stoic attitude. "We have to act as if we can stay forever; that's the best way to grow."
In the long term, Max hopes that the Berlin Senate for Culture will eventually recognize the importance of Zirkus Mond in Berlin's cultural scene and provide it with a permanent space. Until then, "wild Berlin" will continue to thrive in this place like in only a few others in the city.
Crowdfunding-Campaign for the new circus garden:
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