Stéphane Ricordel, leading contemporary circus artist, dies at 62

Stéphane Ricordel, a prominent figure in French contemporary circus, died on 30 July after a long neuro‑degenerative illness. He was co‑director of the Théâtre du Rond‑Point in Paris and co‑founder of the circus company Les Arts Sauts, which helped redefine high‑wire performance as a multidisciplinary theatrical language.

Ricordel directed the Théâtre du Rond‑Point together with his partner, artistic director Laurence de Magalhães, from 2023. The pair had previously led the Théâtre Monfort and the Paris l’Été festival, promoting hybrid projects that blended theatre, dance, circus and puppetry. French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard praised Ricordel for his commitment to artistic innovation and his generosity to the cultural community.

His death is mourned across the international circus and theatre worlds, where he was regarded as a generous creator and a key reference for contemporary performance art.