Tulu

Circus Abyssinia’s second creation, Tulu, is a family circus show that celebrates the true tale of an icon. Backed by a live band and rocking with the exuberant joy of its cast, Tulu tells the story of the first African woman to win Olympic gold.

The show takes its name from the heroine of the piece: Ethiopian distance runner and Olympic legend, Derartu Tulu. Meaning both ‘valley’ and ‘mountain heights’, the name ‘Tulu’ plays out in the show's dazzling feats of speed, skill and flight, in a runner's pursuit of her horizon, all the way from Ethiopia's Arsi highlands to her Olympic triumph.

Dancing with flags and flames of Olympic pageanty, invoking the iconic Olympic rings and showcasing Ethiopia’s diverse culture, the show emulates the mesmerising thrills of the race that made Derartu a star.

Derartu runs with the winds of history at her back: the show pays tribute to the great Ethiopian women and warriors of contemporary and bygone years - usually overlooked by the history books - who came before Derartu and inspired her to run. Circus has the power to defy the impossible.

Through the superhuman skills of the circus artist, Tulu presents Derartu as nothing less than a superhero, one to inspire future generations, especially young women, to march to the beat of their own drum and hold fast to their dreams.

It is significant that the starring role is a shared one in the show: every female cast member takes a turn playing Derartu, signifying her legacy as a champion for women’s rights and a trailblazer for female athletes and artists who are now following in her footsteps in Ethiopia.