The tradition has been maintained for 81 years and a renewed Circus always returns to the Coliseu.

"Welcome to the greatest show in the world." Coliseu Porto Ageas opens its doors today to an uninterrupted tradition since 1941: the Circo de Natal. A show that promises to delight children and adults alike until the 8th of January. With over 30 artists and creators from six countries, there's room for dance, magic, fire, clowns and even a wheel of death.

The premiere, as tradition also dictates, takes place on December 9th. This year, this Friday at 21:00. Rui Paixão can't wait to step on stage and, together with 30 other artists, spread the magic of circus arts. Accustomed to Cirque du Soleil – the first Portuguese to join its cast – he takes on, at Circo do Coliseu, the challenge of being the artistic director and, at the same time, presenting himself on the track as a clown who really wants to be a villain.

“Many headaches as is natural in any debut. They are part of the creative process”, confesses Rui Paixão, leaving a compliment to the cast at his disposal: “We have a very professional set of artists. We had a lot of fun and now it's time to try to pass that on to the public”.

This year, the show is inspired by the unfinished fable “Os Gigantes da Montanha”, by Luigi Pirandello. There will be a bit of everything: music, dance, magic, fire, juggling, clown, capillary suspension, rolla bolla, pins, diabolo, cyr wheel and even a wheel of death.