

LIDIJA ŠOLA
Lidija Šola is a Croatian, Cork based artist, and co-founder of Tricycle Trauma, an experimental circus collective. She’s been a part of the independent art scene for over a decade as a performer, author and director.
Her work lives at the edge of form, blending contemporary circus, physical theatre, and dance, always with an eye toward the surreal, dark, and the strange. Lidija is driven by a desire to rearticulate what performance can be, often working with artists from across disciplines to explore new theatrical languages.
She’s been part of multidisciplinary projects with the Damir Bartol Indoš House of Extreme Musical Theatre in experimental performances “F:I:L:M:S:K:A:T:E:K:A”, “Formed in a Stance”. and at the opening of the 2020 European Capital of Culture Rijeka with the play “Opera Industriale”.
In 2023, she premiered "(Un)Holy Blood," a surreal circus play, at St. Luke’s Cork. In 2024 the show was made into an installation and was part of Periodical Review 13 – Maslow’s Hammer exhibition.
Lidija and Noelle Ni’ Riagain have been selected as NEST 4 nations artists for 2025 with their new street show “Now and Then” which is touring across Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland.
With support from Arts Council Bursary Award, she is currently developing her new play, "Dosh Pit" which is her second collaboration with writer Sadhbh Moriarty. A fusion of contemporary circus, absurd theatre and stage magic, this play is a darkly comic descent into what happens when the past refuses to clock out.
Projects
(Un)Holy Blood
'(Un)Holy Blood' is a powerful and thought-provoking performance that blends contemporary circus, theatre, dance, and visual art to explore the complexities of organized religion and challenge traditional notions of feminism. Inspired by Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal film "Santa Sangre," this captivating show features a compelling narrative and stunning visuals. It premiered in St. Luke’s, Cork in May 2023.
Credits:
(Un)Holy Blood was supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Cork City Council and Circus Factory.
Practical Information
Now and Then
"Now and Then" is a circus show and the story of an unlikely friendship between a social-media-obsessed-aerial-instamodel Pookie, played by Lidija Šola, and a no-nonsense, hardy older lady, Nancy, played by Noelle Ní Riagáin. Featuring an eight metre freestanding aerial rig, the show reveals the clash of cultures between generations and the hilarity of their world’s colliding through physical comedy, aerial acrobatics and its heartwarming story.
Winner of the NEST Four Nations exchange programme, 'Now and Then' is confirmed for performances at festivals in Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland in 2025.
Credits:
TBC
Practical Information
Photos 6 & 7 taken at Creative Places Tipperary
Godless Utopia
Godless Utopia is a 15 min contemporary circus and visual performance by Lidija Šola and Neil Feely.
Fusing contemporary circus trapeze with intensive A/V, Godless Utopia imprints itself on an audience's psyche. A tsunami of the senses is unleashed through opulent physical rituals with pinpoint artificial systems.
Present digital cultures and religious regimes are placed in the spotlight through the lenses of Patrick Kavangh's Epic:
Till Homer’s ghost came whispering to my mind.
He said: I made the Iliad from such
A local row. Gods make their own importance.