Circus Cape Cod Overview | Payomet Performing Arts Center

Cirque by the Sea

Cape Cod's home for circus all year long!

CIRCUS SHOWS

Bring the whole family to our mesmerizing and fun professional circus shows

CIRCUS CAMP

Exciting summer camp experiences led by our professional circus artists that inspire and lead with confidence

CIRCUS CLASSES

Our energizing classes are for all ages and experience levels from beginners to high flyers

CIRCUS IN SCHOOLS

Our Cirque troupe brings the magic of circus directly to Cape Cod schools

Experience jaw-dropping Circus Shows by our professional Cirque by the Sea troupe and hands-on Circus Classes and summer Circus Camp.

Our original circus shows tackle stories that matter with skill, spectacle, and heart. Add Circus Camp and classes, kids, teens and everyone is part of the magic.

Our circus isn’t just a spectacle.
It’s a tool for change, and everyone is invited in!

CIRCUS SHOWS!

Thrilling Original Circus Shows

Each year, our professional circus artists write and produce an original show from scratch, building narratives around themes that matter — gender equality, climate change, ocean health, backyard pollinators — and delivering them with breathtaking skill and plenty of heart. The results are performances as meaningful as they are mesmerizing.

Payomet Cirque by the Sea is taking its original theater circus production, ROOTS! A Farm to Circus Show, on the road this fall. Set on a working family farm, this all-ages Cape Cod circus show blends acrobatics, aerial work, and clowning to tell the story of a young farmer who inherits his family’s land and learns the value of regenerative farming. It’s a joyful, heartfelt outing for families that invites audiences to slow down, look at where they came from, and think about what kind of future they want to grow.

More tour dates are on the way as Payomet Cirque by the Sea books additional New England venues. Are you interested in presenting ROOTS?

Back in the Saddle – Burlesque!

Back in the Saddle – Burlesque! is a Wild West circus theater production from Payomet Cirque by the Sea, and it’s available to book at venues across New England.

Born from a Southwest road trip through Tombstone, Arizona, the show follows a farm girl who disguises herself to work on a men-only ranch, with lasso work, bullwhip skills, juggling, and acrobatics woven into the story. Closer to a play than a circus show, it uses burlesque as a storytelling tool, driving character transformations and comedy and elevating the narrative. It’s an adults-only (18+) night out that’s equal parts theater, circus, and cheeky fun. Interested in bringing it to your theater, festival, or event? Reach out to Payomet Cirque by the Sea to talk about booking.

CIRCUS CAMP

Summer Circus Camp For All Ages

Every summer, the fun begins under the big top. Circus Camp runs weekly for all experience levels, with professional artists leading campers through aerial arts, acrobatics, mini-trampoline, physical comedy, improv, and so much more. By the end of the week, campers aren’t just learning circus skills. They’re living it! Each session wraps with a showcase where family and friends get a front-row seat to what a week of circus can do.

CIRCUS CLASSES

Circus Fun All Year Long

Circus class is in session. All year long, Payomet Cirque by the Sea offers programming for all ages and skill levels, from drop-in juggling workshops to youth performance troupes and adult aerial classes. Wherever you are in your circus journey, there’s a place for you here.

2026 Fall // Circus Classes

Little Lions // Ages 3 & 4

Tiny Tents // Ages 5 & 6

Open Skills // Ages 7–12

Performance Youth Troupe // Ages 7–18

Open Studio // recommended for Ages 16+

Adult Aerial // Ages 18+

Our year-round home base is located at our Big Top Circus Tent at the WHAT Theater in Wellfleet.

CIRCUS IN SCHOOLS

We Bring Circus Into Our Schools

The circus doesn’t stop when summer ends. During the school year, Payomet Cirque by the Sea brings the fun directly to local Cape Cod elementary schools through gym takeovers, after-school classes, and lively school-wide performances. No experience needed, just a willingness to try something fun.

Gym Class Takeovers are exactly what they sound like. Our professional circus instructors take over the gym and invite kids to explore, play, and discover what they’re capable of. It’s for everyone, and the energy is electric.

After School Circus Classes keep the momentum going with weekly sessions where students tumble, spin, and take flight. With instruction tailored to every level, from first-timers to seasoned movers, every student progresses at their own pace while building real strength, confidence, and skills that stick.