Conversations in ten questions 95: Loïse Manuel ve Hugo Marchand (Le Cirque Content Pour Peu)


Atta, Turkey's first and only international arts festival for babies and children, organized around November 20th, World Children's Rights Day, since 2016, celebrated its ninth anniversary in 2025. Having welcomed numerous international groups to date, the festival unites babies aged 0–3, children and young people aged 3–18, their accompanying adults, and children and young people with disabilities aged 3–18 through theatre, dance, music, film, exhibitions, and interactive activities. This year's programme included a variety of performances, ranging from dance theatre for babies aged 6–18 to a new circus for audiences aged 4 and over, as well as dance and object theatre. Between 20 and 30 November 2025, performances by groups from Turkey, Finland, Denmark, France, Norway, Lithuania and Ireland were staged in Istanbul at the Paribuart, Arter, Barış Manço Cultural Centre and Hisar Schools Cultural Centre. 

In the third of our conversations with participants from the latest international edition of the festival, we spoke with Loïse Manuel ve Hugo Marchand, creators of the show By Trial and Error.
The Cirque Content Pour Peu (CCPP) was founded in 2010 following the meeting of Loïse MANUEL and Hugo MARCHAND, at the Chambéry circus arts centre, “Arc En Cirque”. The company's philosophy is to raise awareness of contemporary circus among all audiences. To achieve this, it relies on its ability to adapt to all kinds of venues, while maintaining its artistic vision and universal themes. The various projects utilize a wide range of circus techniques, primarily tightrope walking, aerial rope, and acrobatic lifts. The artistic universe of the creations of Cirque Content Pour Peu relies on burlesque and absurd poetry to distill a tender irony and an unfailing lightness.

What do you think is the essence of performance? 
La liberté.
[The freedom.]

Do you believe in the transformative power of art? In what way? 
Oui! Peut être en réveillant les artistes en chacun de nous et en faisant confiance aux enfants? 
[Yes! Perhaps by awakening the artists within us all and trusting children?]

When you are working on a piece, what sources inspire you? Do dreams play a role in your work? 
La nature humane! L’inconscient façonne nos journées, le corps nous révèle, l'inexplicable nous encense! 

When do you decide to give a piece you are working on a title if it does not already have one? 
Il y a un déclic,on se met à comprendre ce que l’on fait! le titre est la porte d’entrée du spectacle et elle n’est pas si facile à trouver! 
[Human nature! The unconscious shapes our days, the body reveals us, the inexplicable inspires us!]

Is there an artist or person who you think has influenced your art the most? And if so, who? 
Il y en a tellement! Buster Keaton reste notre préféré! 
[There are so many! Buster Keaton remains our favourite!]

Considering the current state of the world in every sense, what is the most important and urgent issue for you as an artist? 
Pour sauver le monde, un artiste a la lourde tâche de rester léger!

When creating a piece for children and young people, are there particular things you pay special attention to?
Les enfants sont très exigeants!C'est un très bon test pour un jeune spectacle! 
[To save the world, an artist has the difficult task of remaining light-hearted!]

Could you tell us why you founded your collective, Le Cirque Content Pour Peu, and what the philosophy behind your shows is? 
Pour rester libre de nos décisions!( c’est aussi beaucoup de responsabilité, il faut être polyvalent) 
La philosophie? que le burlesque, le clown et la poésie absurde distillent tendrement l’ironie et la légèreté a pleins de gens qui n’ont rien à voir entre eux!
[To remain free in our decisions! (It's also a lot of responsibility; you have to be versatile.)
The philosophy? That burlesque, clowning and absurd poetry tenderly distil irony and lightness for lots of people who have nothing to do with each other!]

How did you come up with the idea for your piece By Trial and Error, which we will see at the Atta Festival in Istanbul? 
Il est le reflet de nos imperfections, nous nous en servont comme terreau créatif!
[It reflects our imperfections, and we use it as creative fuel!]

What are your impressions of the Istanbul audience? 
Merveilleux! Attentif! Curieux!
[Wonderful! Attentive! Curious!]

The Turkish version of this interview was published in unlimited.

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