Cirque Alfonse is a family story—not only the one we are born into, but more importantly, the one we build through artistic encounters and rooted love. It is a thoroughly contemporary project that draws its source from the past, from the resilient spirit of old-time Québec.

At the heart of this vibrant and unconventional collective—one that attracts a myriad of cherished collaborators—are nine key members: Antoine Carabinier-Lépine, a multidisciplinary acrobat and co-artistic director; His sister Julie, co-artistic director and powerful contemporary dancer, who inspires and reimagines movement; Their parents, Alain Carabinier and Louise Lépine, who host the troupe on their land in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, manage the books, and frequently perform on stage; Jonathan Casaubon, a specialist in teeterboard acrobatics and Julie’s partner; Geneviève Morin, a fearless aerialist and Antoine’s life partner; The talented Alain Francoeur, who directs the shows; Nicolas Descôteaux, the lighting designer who illuminates it all; And David Simard, who crafts the powerful and poetic neo-traditional musical landscapes that have become pillars of Cirque Alfonse’s artistic identity.

All the troupe’s shows are co-created in the family patriarch’s barn in Lanaudière, transformed into a lively creative space. This warm, improbable, and rustic setting—just like its occupants—acts as an incubator for original works that have garnered international acclaim and awards.

Since their debut production “La Brunante” in 2006, Cirque Alfonse has been weaving rich and playful stories that skillfully blend tradition with modernity. Drawing inspiration from lumberjack camps (Timber!, 2011), old-time fairs (Barbu: Electro-Trad Fair, 2013), religious heritage (Tabarnak, 2017), or even agricultural funk (Animal, 2020), their productions have toured hundreds of times across five continents.

Each show paints, in its own way, a vibrant portrait of traditional Québécois culture—revived with love, irreverence, and plenty of humor.

Broche à foin is an immersive, roaming, family-friendly show lasting about 70 minutes, designed to unfold outdoors in a heritage site made up of historic buildings. Imagined as an acrobatic village fête, the project brings together a 16-person troupe, including: a patriarch who leads the audience aboard his mini-tractor, six seasoned acrobats, two traditional musicians perched on an old-fashioned cart, and seven children aged 4 to 14 who participate according to their own interest and abilities.

The experience is built around a series of artistic vignettes that take place in iconic areas of the site: a pole act and choir in front of a church, an intimate hand-to-hand duet in a gazebo, children flying through the air in a century-old tree, juggling outside a rustic shop, a wire act in an open field… All of it is accompanied by live music, carried by the musicians' cart that follows the public as they move through the space.

Spectators, invited to travel from one location to the next, discover a series of poetic, playful, and spectacular moments, fully integrated into the site’s architecture. Hay bales are placed along the route to create natural resting spots and ephemeral performance arenas.

True to the Cirque Alfonse spirit, the show blends acrobatic skill, neo-traditional music, and a festive atmosphere with a resolutely family-oriented approach. Some scenes reinterpret excerpts from previous company shows, while others were created specifically in collaboration with the children, who are integral to the artistic process.

A unique aspect of the project is the direct involvement of the artists' own children in the creation and performance, always with great care given to respecting their pace, desires, and applicable regulations. Special attention is paid to balancing play, joy, and artistic discipline.

Broche à foin is a living tribute to a shared cultural imagination—rooted in joyful gatherings, collective traditions, and human connection. It’s a homespun circus grounded in raw materials, music, and community.