The Arlette Gruss Circus is in Paris with its new show, Essentiel!

The Cirque Arlette Gruss returns to Paris from 4 to 13 December 2026 on the Pelouse de Reuilly, in the 12th arrondissement, with its new show titled Essentiel. For this production, the troupe invites children and adults alike to rediscover the fundamentals of the arts of the circus, between acrobatics, aerial acts, humor and poetry.

A family-friendly outing to consider as the year-end holidays approach, under the big top of this cornerstone of French circus.

Since its launch in 1985 by Arlette Gruss and her husband Georgika Kobann, the circus has crisscrossed France with fresh productions each season. Today led by Gilbert Gruss, the founder’s son, it brings together a team of 120 and continues a family story that spans six generations.

Essentiel, a new show weaving acrobatics, humor and poetry

With Essentiel, the Arlette Gruss Circus debuts a show built around an imaginary universe: a book whose pages unfold into a world populated by artists and characters. This narrative thread runs through the numbers, pairing physical daring with poetic moments and lighthearted, humorous sequences.

The show brings together a range of disciplines that illustrate the diversity of circus arts:

• Acrobatics, featuring group performances and technical feats.
• Aerial acts, where performers work high above the ring.
• The family equestrian act, preserving a historic circus tradition.
• Humor and moments of poetry, adding rhythm and grace to the show.
• The teeterboard act, a discipline where artists launch through the air and execute daring figures on a flipping board.

The show runs for about two hours. The production blends several forms of circus expression in a staging that fuses the heritage of traditional circus with a contemporary approach to live performance.

Cirque Arlette Gruss • New Essential Show On Tour!

A family saga handed down through six generations

Tradition sits at the heart of Cirque Arlette Gruss's identity. After Arlette Gruss, then her son Gilbert, it is now the founder's grandchildren who are taking their turn in the ring.

Among them, Kevin Gruss shines in aerial disciplines, while Laura-Maria Gruss presents the family’s cavalry. Eros and Alexis Gruss take part in a teeterboard act.

This new generation is pushing circus disciplines forward while safeguarding the hands-on know-how passed down within the family. With Essentiel, that continuity between tradition and modernity stays at the heart of the artistic project.

The Arlette Gruss Circus under the Big Top on the Pelouse de Reuilly

For its Paris leg, the circus has pitched its tent on the Pelouse de Reuilly, near the Bois de Vincennes. The event offers a chance to experience the show in a space dedicated to the performing arts, with the artists gathered around the central performance area.

Performances run from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 13, 2026, with multiple shows each day. Tickets start at €17, offering different seating options and special rates for children aged 3 to 12.

Cirque Arlette Gruss • New Essential Show On Tour!