The idle hour – Creation 2026
He never stops. He knows full well that if he did, the hamster in his head would take over, start
crawling, running, spinning. Keeping the agitation at bay, letting blissful ignorance prevail. Doing everything to prevent this storm from drowning his soul.
The Idle Hour is a thought-provoking, non-verbal performance that explores the relentless pursuit of productivity in modern society. Set against a stark stage with a human-sized hamster wheel, the piece features two acrobats whose contrasting personalities —one frantic and the other calm— unfold through a series of physical interactions. The wheel becomes both a symbol and an instrument of their existential struggle: a metaphor for the endless race toward an elusive happiness. Through a fusion of acrobatics, dance, and sound, the performance invites the audience to reflect on the pressures of modern life, the search for meaning, and the potential for peace amidst chaos.
Check the calendar for the next performances of The idle hour.
Specifications
Two performers, one technician
Location: Indoors or outdoors
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: Movement-based (no text)
Up to 500 audience members
Age: 8+
Audience: Bi-frontal
Stage size : 6 meters x 6 meters
Performances per day: 1-2 x
Disciplines : Acrodance, acrodance partnering and music
Contact us for the detailed technical rider
Cast and crew
Concept, Music Composition and Direction: Samuel Rhyner
Artists: Samuel Rhyner and William Blenkin
Technician: Jef Delva
Dramaturgical and Choreographic Support: Britt Timmermans
Musical Advisor: Pierrick Bacher
Choreographic Advisor: Pia Meuthen
Acrobatic Advisor: Luuk Brantjes
Occasional Outside Eye: Louison Chartrain
Set Design and Construction: Job Schuermans
Lighting Design: Eligio Membrez and Edwin van Steenbergen
Video and Photography: Mastershot – Maïm Dedeene
Graphic design: Erwan Demenga
Administration: Melanie Lamon, Samuel Rhyner and Vanessa Lixon
Administrative support: Buro Piket
Production : Motus murmuri
Partners or the project
With the support of Loterie Romande (CH), Canton du Valais (CH), City of Monthey (CH), Fondation Ernst Göhner (CH), Mira miro (Gent, BE), Pourcent-culturel Migros (CH), Circusstad Festival (Rotterdam, NL), De Verkadefabriek (’s-Hertogenbosch, NL), Fonds culturel de la Société Suisse des Auteurs (SSA) et ProCirque, Corodis (CH), Espace Parallèle (St-Maurice, CH) et Quartier Culturel Malévoz (Monthey, CH), Fondation Engelberts (CH), Korzo Theater (Den Haag, NL), Circuswerkplaats Dommelhof (Neerpelt, BE), Banque Raiffeisen de Monthey (CH), Cirklabo (Leuven, BE), festival cirkL (Leuven, BE), Panama Pictures (’s Hertogenbosch, NL), Station Circus (Basel, CH)
