At a glance
Place __________ Espace Jax
Address ______ 1439 Ste-Catherine W Street, Montreal
Duration ________ 1h30
Intermission ______ 20 minutes
Language _______ French
Price __________ From 35,55$. Group discounts are available.
Transport _____ Metro: Guy-Concordia station (green line, 4-minute walk) and Lucien L’Allier station (orange line, 7-minute walk)
What to expect
Under the majestic arches of our century-old church bathed in light, experience a unique sensory journey. From March 7 to 15, Le Monastère invites you to discover its first Circus Cabaret of the year—a celebration of pure circus artistry.
Gravity-defying aerial straps, dizzying chair stacking, precision juggling, graceful dance trapeze, and captivating hand to hand duo performances… A dozen artists will unveil original creations crafted with passion and virtuosity.
Before and after the show, savor local flavors at Le P’tit Sacristain, our signature bar, and let the festive beats of our DJ transform your night into a true celebration. A unique evening to share with friends, colleagues, or family.
The artists
Anthony Venisse - EmCee
Anthony initially trained at the Rudra-Béjart dance school and at Circus Space in London, before graduating from the National Circus School in Montreal, where he specialized in swinging trapeze and clowning. With a deep passion for creation and directing, he produced his own “one clown show” in 2007, centered around a piano: Le Concierge.
Since then, Anthony has directed productions for GOP Varieté cabarets in Germany and for Montréal Complètement Cirque, where he developed the concept for Les Minutes Complètement Cirque, which ran for ten years. Fascinated by magic, Anthony also created a quick-change clown act with his sister Amélie. As a master of ceremonies for various circus events, Anthony also works as an artistic coach and choreographer for Cirque du Soleil.
Michel Michel - EmCee & DJ
Guillaume Biron, known as Michel Michel, is a multidisciplinary circus artist working as a performer, director, and artistic director. Known for his work with The 7 Fingers in Psy, and as co-founder of Compagnie Tête d’Enfant, he collaborates with numerous companies and cultural events, both on stage and behind the scenes for contemporary dance, circus, and music projects.
A DJ since 2009, Michel Michel has animated a wide variety of cultural events, including Les Coups de Cœur de la Tohu, Improcirque, and Montréal Complètement Cirque. He is also currently co-directing Cirqu’Easy, solidifying his reputation as a versatile creator in the world of live performance.
Delaney Bayles - Club juggling
Delaney hails from Salt Lake City, USA. Her uncle taught her to juggle at the age of 13, and she instantly fell in love with the artform. She spent her youth training in her living room and performing at festivals. She discovered her passion for circus after touring with Circus Smirkus one summer. Later, Delaney graduated from the contemporary circus school Circadium.
Her act is all about the love of technical juggling—perhaps nothing entirely new, but a reinvention of something old. The goal of her piece is to blend theatricality with the art of throwing and catching, all while incorporating a unique movement style.
Colin André-Hériaud - Stacking chairs
Originally from the south of France, Colin fell in love with circus at an early age. After training at circus schools in Châtellerault and Quebec, he hit the road, performing with numerous companies and productions around the world. It was at the École de Cirque de Québec, nearly 15 years ago, that he met Aaron DeWitt, his hand to hand partner and longtime creative collaborator. Together, they have created a unique artistic universe blending comedy and poetry.
When Colin isn’t balancing on his chairs, you might find him swinging on his Escarpolette—an acrobatic aerial apparatus that looks like a giant swing, combining both acrobatics and aerial stunts.
Rose Munger - Dance trapeze & Cyr wheel
Passionate about the performing arts, Rose embodies the perfect blend of artistic grace and athletic power. Her early training in gymnastics, figure skating, and dance laid the foundation for her rise in the circus world. At age 15, she enthusiastically joined the National Circus School of Montreal, and at 19, she successfully completed her college diploma, specializing in dance trapeze and Cyr wheel. Rose also excels in acro-dance, hand to hand, acrobatics, trampoline, and dance, making her a highly versatile performer.
Driven by bold ambition, Rose dreams of leaving a lasting mark on the stages and rings of the world’s greatest circuses, where her passion, creativity, and artistic mastery merge to captivate audiences around the globe.
Bridie Hooper - Aerial straps
Bridie started circus at the age of 11 in a small Australian town. She quickly fell in love with the community spirit—learning tricks, creating routines, and performing as part of a group. After graduating from the National Circus School in Montreal in 2012, Bridie’s career has spanned over a decade, performing internationally with renowned companies such as GOP Varieté-Theater, Montréal Complètement Cirque, Reuben Kaye, Polytoxic, and CIRCA.
Bridie’s independent works experiment with sound/visual art, participatory engagement, and endurance, challenging and recontextualizing her practice while advocating for experimental circus. Strict Machine Straps is a revelation of pleasure, submission, and control—a masterclass in wraps, drops, and complex suspensions, exploring the multiple facets of female power, strength, and desire.
Eric Bates - Cigar box juggling
Eric has been juggling for as long as he can remember. A graduate of the National Circus School in Montreal in 2011, he has since toured in over 40 countries around the world, showcasing his cigar box juggling and Russian bar acts. He is also the co-founder of Cirque Barcode and the author of The Contemporary Circus Handbook. Alongside his performing career, Eric Bates also works as a filmmaker, specializing in adventure and movement-based disciplines.
Charlotte Cayer - Tissu loop
Charlotte’s journey began in her hometown of Montreal, where she grew up in a school that valued creativity and individuality. This nurturing environment became fertile ground for her passion for performance, encouraging exploration and self-expression. This is where she discovered her artistic calling. Charlotte went on to train at the École de Cirque de Québec, where she specialized in loop tissu. Today, she continues to push artistic boundaries and explore new creative horizons.
Since the beginning, Charlotte has felt a deep, instinctive pull to create an act around this particular song. She’s fascinated by its rhythm, lyrics, and emotional depth. This piece, a true ode to liberation, allows her to transform negativity into positive energy, shedding unnecessary weight and embracing the present moment with greater intensity.
Soen Geirnaert - Hand to hand
Soen began her athletic journey in gymnastics, eventually joining Belgium’s elite acrobatic gymnastics team and competing internationally. At 18, she stepped away from competitive gymnastics, and two years later, Cirque du Soleil offered her a role in Varekai. This marked the start of her 13-year career in the circus world, performing with prestigious companies such as The 7 Fingers, Gravity & Other Myths, and Cirque Éloize.
Shattered Trust, created for the show Delirious, is a deeply emotional duo act exploring the pain and tension of betrayal. Through dramatic lifts, daring aerial stunts, and moments of intense connection, the act plunges the audience into a whirlwind of raw emotions.
Nicolas Jelmoni - Hand to hand
Nicolas doesn’t take life too seriously but embraces every bit of it. Born and raised in Monaco, where he practiced dance, gymnastics, and diving, Nicolas began his circus training at the San Francisco Circus Center before graduating from the National Circus School in Montreal in 2014. Since then, he’s performed in numerous productions worldwide, including Pippin and Water for Elephants (Broadway), Cirque du Soleil’s Joyà, Duel Reality by The 7 Fingers, Cirkopolis by Cirque Éloize, and Delirious, a circus-cabaret show he created and produced.
Nicolas will perform Shattered Trust alongside Soen.
TECHNICAL TEAM__________ Guyaume Robitaille, sound engineer – Hugo Duquette, stage technician – Lorianne Foissy, lighting designer – Nicolas Germaine, stage technician – Pauline Baud, stage manager.
Le Monastère thanks Espace Jax, the Montreal Arts Council, the Quebec Arts and Letters Council, and RISQ. We also acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.
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If you respond before Monday, December 2, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Cabaret du Jugement Dernier!
Come to Le P’tit Sacristain, our uniquely charming bar made from church pews, to sample our delicious 100% Québécois beverages: cocktails, wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks.
Order our Signature Cocktail: Le Péché Ambré. The festive sweetness of sparkling wine with the gourmet bitterness of Amermelade, and a touch of sparkling water for a light, refreshing finish.
There’s a sacred place whose vocation is transformed when night falls…
Once darkness sets in, the tension rises. Le Monastère’s disciples take to the stage for a circus competition unique in Quebec, where only the most daring acts will triumph. Acrobatics, juggling and aerial acrobatics are performed under the gaze of an expert jury… and yours.
In this Sanctuary, stained glass windows come to life, arches light up and light falls from the sky to reveal the extent of their prowess. Bodies bend, soar, defy gravity. Silence suspends time, then the explosion of cheers fills the sacred space.
Who will triumph? Whose talent will be consecrated? You’ll be invited to take part in the judging, recognizing the excellence of these artists and celebrate their mastery in this friendly competition where the circus reaches its zenith.