The Circus of Dreams is a highly visual theatrical production, performed live using traditional handcrafted wooden marionettes.

Every element of the show has been handcrafted to enhance the world these puppets inhabit, from the finely detailed sets, props and costumes to the lighting, music and shadow animation. Together they create a complete and richly detailed world at marionette scale.

The production is staged inside The Solar Stage, our purpose-built mobile theatre, specifically created for live marionette performance. The stage, lighting and auditorium draw the audience into the action, creating an experience that feels immediate, atmospheric and magical.

At the heart of the story is Winston Khan, a young tiger searching for where he truly belongs. Guided by a mysterious map of destiny, Winston journeys through a succession of strange and wondrous worlds, meeting extraordinary characters and facing the challenges that eventually lead him towards the Circus of Dreams.

Along the way, flying pandas swing from the trapeze, a sheep performs on a unicycle, mice cross the high wire and extraordinary creatures appear as Winston’s story unfolds.

Performed by three puppeteers, The Circus of Dreams celebrates the expressive power of marionettes, combining strong visual storytelling with original music, theatrical lighting and beautifully crafted sets to create a distinctive piece of visual theatre.

Vision Mechanics will take this fantastical production to communities, festivals, village greens and rural locations across Scotland, preserving the close relationship between performer, puppet and audience that lies at the heart of great marionette theatre.