Circus Roncalli: A work of art between nostalgia and modernity in Frankfurt!

Circus Roncalli: A work of art between nostalgia and modernity in Frankfurt!

The Circus Roncalli is not just a circus, but a real piece of art! Founded in 1976 by Bernhard Paul and André Heller, this circus has developed and celebrated in an impressive way. The premiere took place on May 18th at the Hofgartenwiese in Bonn and immediately set standards. A few years later, more precisely from 1980, the second big show started in Cologne with the title “Journey to the Rainbow”, which attracted over 1.6 million visitors in the following six years. Roncalli quickly became a crowd puller, delighting people of all ages, as FAZ reports.

Bernhard Paul, whose passion for the circus was awakened in his youth, had a good knack for innovation. After a first, less successful run and a separation from Heller, he was able to restructure Roncalli. Although the separation brought many difficulties, Paul saw it as both a misfortune and a great opportunity. To get back on his feet financially, he started a wax museum that helped him pay off his debts. This decision was spot on, because Roncalli soon became successful with new audience favorites and a mix of nostalgic and modern shows that captured the zeitgeist, as Wikipedia notes.

Successful years and remarkable performances

After years of development and creative development, Circus Roncalli became an established name in the German and Austrian circus landscape. The winter quarters in Cologne-Mülheim, which have been housed in a converted building of the former Circus Williams since 1984, play a central role in the circus's logistics. The area offers sufficient space for storing floats, costumes and historical fair equipment. Paul is even planning a circus museum that will showcase the rich history of Circus Roncalli and its collection of historic circus wagons, as Wikipedia further explains.

The innovations didn't stop: in 2018, animal-free circus was promoted, entirely in the spirit of environmental protection. Instead of live animals, holograms were used to create breathtaking illusions. These decisions were met with great enthusiasm among viewers and show that Roncalli is also ready to move with the times.

The successful further development of Circus Roncalli with performances abroad, such as the first guest performance of a West German circus in the Soviet Union in 1986, shows the international relevance of the circus. The 2023 tour even brought the circus to New York City with the show “Journey to the Rainbow.” This underlines that Roncalli is not just a local but a global phenomenon.

A look into the future

The succession in the Roncalli dynasty is also secured, as Bernhard's children have already expressed their interest in continuing the tradition of the Circus Roncalli. Not only the artistic direction, but also the legacy of the circus will be in good hands. Paul plans, together with Cologne mayor Henriette Reker, to further develop his circus museum “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and thus inspire future generations for circus art.

So we can only hope that Circus Roncalli will continue to work on its success story and explore new, imaginative paths, because the audience is already eagerly awaiting the next performances!