International circus artists of ‘Duel Reality’ to arrive in DC at STC on July 1

Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced the international cast of Duel Reality by The 7 Fingers, a high-flying theatrical take on Romeo and Juliet, which comes to Harman Hall July 1 – 20, 2025. Members of the cast come from more than 10 countries, including Argentina, Guatemala, Sweden, France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, and more.

Originally created by The 7 Fingers (also known as Les 7 Doigts de la main, from Montréal, Québec) in collaboration with Virgin Voyages, Duel Reality is directed by Shana Carroll, the co-Founder and Artistic Director of The 7 Fingers and the Tony Award-nominated co-choreographer and circus designer for Water for Elephants on Broadway.

Acrobatic and aerial artists from around the world come together for a dramatic tale of two feuding families told through battles of skill and daring and high-flying competition in an acrobatic sports arena. Duel Reality has toured the world and now brings its signature flair and acrobatic magic to Washington, DC. The one-act, nonstop production is “a perfect summer diversion for the whole family” (MIXYPLIX) and “manages a beautiful retelling of the classic tale for Shakespeare lovers and non-lovers alike” (BroadwayWorld Seattle).

The cast features:

Vitor Martinez Silva
Gerardo Gutierrez
Michelle Hernandez
Miliève Modin-Brisebois
Daniela Corradi
Ashleigh Roper
Santiago Rivera
Adam Fullick
Anton Persson (through July 6)
Nino Bartolini (begins July 8)
Einar Kling Odencrants (through July 6)
Colin Vuillèmes (begins July 8)
Carlos Francos Péré
Méghane Poulet

Joining Carroll on the creative team are musical director and composer Colin Gagné, lighting designer Alexander Nichols, costume designer Camille Thibault-Bédard, production director Maude St-Pierre, technical director Simon Carrière, technical coordinator Audrey Belzile, assistant to the Artistic Director Anna Kichtchenko, acrobatic coach Francisco Cruz, tour manager Pauline Baud-Guillard, technical director/sound Delphine Quenneville, rigger Benoît Rouillard, and LX operators Florent Pattou.

Duel Reality was originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages, with commissioning partner ArtsEmerson.

ABOUT DUEL REALITY

Duel Reality
by The 7 Fingers
directed by Shana Carroll
Originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages
Commissioning partner ArtsEmerson
JULY 1 – 20
Shakespeare Theatre Company, Harman Hall
Two households, both alike in agility…
Crackling with electric energy, Duel Reality distills Shakespeare’s epic love story down to the core of its conflict. Fusing circus, theater, and dance, two feuding families face off in an acrobatic sporting arena where death-defying stunts are challenged by life-affirming passion in this action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Hailed by critics as a “very slick, heart-stopping, awe-inspiring performance” (Edinburgh Festivals for Kids), this international spectacular will thrill the whole family.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Nino Bartolini
Nino is a Swiss-Canadian circus artist specializing in teeterboard who began training at age 5 at Coquino circus school in Switzerland. He performed in shows under the big top, on stage, and in the street, before progressing through Talent and Lausanne circus schools. He graduated from Montreal’s National Circus School in June 2025. Initially focusing on unicycle until age 13, he discovered the teeterboard at 15. He has since developed skills in Russian swing, Russian bar, acrobatic bike, and roller-skate duo while continuing his teeterboard specialization.

Daniela Corradi
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Daniela is a circus artist specializing in juggling. She started in 2014, studying with numerous artists from Argentina and Brazil. She has performed in multiple festivals and circus conventions, winning an accolade in 2018 for her act in the International Jugglers Association Regional South American Competition. Daniela is a member of Centro Cultural Ocupação Ouvidor 63 and circus collective 6/12 Circus as a performer, and on event, production, and technical teams. Since 2022, she has worked with The 7 Fingers on Duel Reality. 

Gerardo Gutiérrez
Born and raised in Mexico City, Gerardo began his passion for the circus at age 15 with juggling and floor acrobatics. At 22, he entered Mexico City’s Cirko de Mente diploma program, graduating in floor acrobatics and hoop diving. After four years of hand-to-hand training at Cirko de Mente with his partner Michelle Hernandez, the two began working in circuses, television shows, festivals, and more in their country, and have worked abroad in Canada, Germany, and Austria. In 2022, they joined The 7 Fingers and Virgin Voyages’ cruise show Duel Reality in the roles of Romeo and Juliet.

Adam Fullick
Graduate of the National Centre for Circus Arts, specializing in hand to hand, general acrobatics, and Cyr wheel. Twelve years of elite international competition experience in sports acrobatics, 2016 British champion. Credits: World tours of award-winning contemporary circus shows (Bromance, Fauna) and with award-winning cruise lines (Virgin Voyages); work with acclaimed film and TV companies (Disney, Apple TV, Marvel, BBC); international cultural art festivals; and international events and ceremonies (2024 Brit Awards with Dua Lipa, Commonwealth Games opening ceremony 2022, among many others).

Michelle Hernandez
Michelle was born and raised in Mexico City. Her lifelong passion for dance led her to graduate in ballet from Mexico City’s National Institute of Fine Arts in 2012 and then drew her to the circus arts. She began training with aerial apparatus such as canvas and ribbons. A year later, she and her partner Gerardo Gutiérrez trained in hand-to-hand at Cirko de Mente in Mexico City. Michelle and Gerardo have worked with circus companies, TV shows, and festivals in their country and abroad, and in 2022, joined The 7 Fingers and Virgin Voyages’ cruise show Duel Reality as Romeo and Juliet.

Vitor Silva Martinez
Vitor is a professional multidisciplinary artist. At six years old he discovered his passion for diabolos, and after exploring the realms of gymnastics and musical theater, he moved to Canada at age 13 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional circus artist. Over seven years at the National Circus School of Montreal and after graduating from École Nationale de Cirque in 2025, he has honed his skills in diabolo, Cyr wheel, skipping rope, and boleadoras, which has led him to work with legendary directors and for renowned festivals and companies, including Cirque du Soleil.

Miliève Modin-Brisebois
Miliève is an acrobat from a family of artists. Growing up surrounded by music, theater, painting, and circus arts, Miliève stands out for her playfulness and straightforwardness, with both qualities evident in her performances and artistic approach. A graduate of the École de cirque de Québec in Chinese pole, she has been a part of several different companies and shows. She often says, “If you don’t make me laugh, I don’t want to know” — in the nicest way, of course.

Einar Kling Odencrants
Einar is a Swedish teeterboard jumper and graduate of the University of Dance and Circus in Stockholm. After graduating, Einar flipped his way around the world performing and competing internationally. He has a gold medal from Cirque de Demain, Gold Elephant from the Moscow International Circus Festival, and a Bronze Clown from the Monaco International Circus Festival. He is also an accomplished circus designer and photographer.

Carlos Francos Péré
Carlos was born in Barcelona and taught himself parkour and acrobatics throughout his youth. In 2016, he joined the Rogelio Rivel Circus School and specialized in double Chinese pole, floor acrobatics, and teeterboard. Since graduating, he has worked with the National Circus of Catalonia and The 7 Fingers (Dear San Francisco; Duel Reality on Virgin Voyages cruises as a Chinese pole and teeterboard artist); learned banquines and hoop diving; and been part of the Hospitalet city winter circus production SOC.

Anton Persson
Anton is a teeterboard artist and acrobat from a small town in Sweden who loves to fight against the laws of gravity. After beginning gymnastics, he attended circus school in Denmark where he tried the teeterboard for the first time and became enamored with the sensation of flying and flipping. Anton then continued his studies at Cnac National Arts Centre Du Cirque in France for three years, perfecting his technique. Anton has performed in Hungary, Sweden, France, Spain, and Australia, among other places. He also enjoys trampoline, snowboarding, cliff diving, circus, and parkour.

Méghane Poulet
Born in France and raised in Texas, Méghane started circus at the age of seven and immediately fell in love. What began as a hobby quickly became a passion, which led her to pursue circus more seriously by attending the National Circus School of Châtellerault when she moved back to France. She was then accepted into the wonderful École de cirque de Québec, from which she graduated in 2017. Since then, Meg’s been living the dream and touring the world with companies like Cirque Éloize, Dragone, Cirque du Soleil, Gravity & Other Myths, and of course, The 7 Fingers.

Santiago Rivera
Santiago is a Guatemalan-born multidisciplinary artist and owner of circus company, Cie. Zirconium. He is influenced by contemporary dance and physical theater, specialized in juggling, and trained in hoop diving and Chinese pole. Santiago was the first Central American to be accepted into the National Circus School of Montréal. Guatemalan collaborations include En el arte producciones, Teatro Fantasia at IRTRA Petapa, and Escuela de circo Batz. His work has been recognized by multiple organizations, including Guatecirko, Montréal Completement Cirque, TOHU, and Cirque Éloize.

Ashleigh Roper
Ashleigh was born in South Africa and, after moving to the UK, began gymnastics at age five. Her family then moved to Australia, where she transitioned to rhythmic gymnastics and discovered her natural flexibility and love for the hula-hoop. She studied at the National Institute of Circus Arts, specializing in hula-hoop and aerial hoop. Since graduating, Ashleigh has performed in productions in spiegeltents and theaters across the globe. Most notably, she performed in The 7 Fingers’ Duel Reality on board the Virgin Voyages cruise line and is now part of the Duel Reality tour cast.

Colin Vuillèmes
Colin is a professional circus artist who recently graduated from Montreal’s National Circus School, specializing in acrobatics, trampoline, and teeterboard. He began circus training at age nine through the Sport-Arts-Études program at École de cirque du Jura, training 10-15 hours weekly alongside his academic studies. He completed an apprenticeship as an industrial equipment manufacturer, providing technical expertise for designing and adapting metal structures in live performance. After pre-professional training at LeZartiCirque in 2020, he successfully entered professional circus school.

Duel Reality runs July 1-20, 2025, at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Harman Hall, 610 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004. Tickets range from $35-$106 and are on sale now. Youth tickets are available to all persons 17 and under for $35 with the purchase of an adult ticket, by phone only.