Wonderbolt Circus

Wonderbolt Productions is a multi-faceted professional circus company based at the edge of the world in historical St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022, Wonderbolt dazzles audiences near and far with its original circus acts and performances and engages at-risk youth with its social outreach programs and professional development workshops.

Wonderbolt set out on its artistic voyage in 1982 when it created a whimsical clown-based circus and travelled with it by boat to the most isolated communities in Newfoundland.

In recent years, under the Artistic Direction of the founder, Beni Malone, we have created and toured a string of critically acclaimed full-scale circus shows. We love incorporating circus skills and the physical arts to tell our stories, to inspire and astonish our audiences, and to create new perspectives on performance and entertainment. 

Wonderbolt produces the St. John’s International CircusFest which brings together international, national and regional circus professionals for an incredible week of panels, workshops and shows. CircusFest also features a free Family Circus Day and a Digital Symposium.

Wonderbolt is also an active member of En Piste Canada’s national circus network and the Association of Professional Theatres of Newfoundland and Labrador (APTNL). During our first circus festival, Wonderbolt spearheaded the formation of the Atlantic Circus Alliance.

We have evolved our activities to meet the growing needs of our community and our industry. We are dedicated to inclusiveness and reaching out to the most vulnerable members of our community. Our initiatives reflect the growing maturity of our company and the spirit of innovation and optimism of our next generation of leadership.

Wonderbolt is overseen by a committed Board of Directors who share the values and goals of the company. Our shows range from one-man seasonal pieces to a full-fledged circus. We have a series of innovative workshops, a skilled nucleus of seasoned performers, plenty of new ideas and a passion and commitment for what we do!

Wonderbolt is a not-for-profit organization that has registered charitable status, and as such, we offer a charitable receipt to any individual or business that donates to the company. Wonderbolt’s annual return is available on the CRA website of registered charities.

Wonderbolt has always been committed to sharing our specialized skills with the wider community.  We have a history of partnering with school boards, Innu Nation and other arts organizations to develop and deliver a wide variety of workshops that promote physical wellness and participation through the arts.