Nuua Circus: Meanwhile at Lowry

This autumn, Nuua Circus return to Lowry with Meanwhile, a playful and profound piece that turns the everyday into the extraordinary. Rooted in the company’s Finnish contemporary circus and visual theatre background, Meanwhile invites the audience to consider our everyday rituals and the ways we fill our time – cleverly transforming the mundane into theatrical magic.

Meanwhile follows two jugglers – played by Merri Heikkilä and Onni Toivonen – who explore the strange value in ‘pointless’ pursuits. Through precise juggling, deft object manipulation, and visual theatre, they build a world that mirrors our own, reminding us how our perspective shifts when we find joy in the unexpected.

The jugglers test the audience’s expectations and challenge our ideas of usefulness, patience, and play. Backed by a sublime live score from composer Konsta Leinonen, and staged with stripped-back but striking design and lighting, Meanwhile is a mesmerizing hour of theatrical invention.

Nuua Circus, hailing from Finland and first formed in 2013, has earned an international reputation for bold innovation and emotional depth. Supported by creative institutions like the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and Kone Foundation, their performances distil contemporary culture into universally resonant moments –  without ever saying a word. Meanwhile feels particularly timely, encouraging us to reconsider how we spend our precious time in an era of constant agitation.

Recommended for ages 10+ and running at around 60 minutes, Meanwhile spins juggling, balance and wonder into a refined and elegant show.