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Behind the Scenes

Celebrating life with Berlin Heart

From the show: The eight artists from A simple space stand in a row on stage and wave to the audience
Two artists from a simple space are helping a child do a handstand and are delighted at how well the child is doing
An artist from A Simple Space is sitting on the floor surrounded by balloon animals and giving a little girl a high five
It's a gathering of a few adults and a few children in the lobby of the Chamäleon
The manager of the Chamäleon is standing on stage with another woman in front of the red curtain, making an announcement
In the foreground, two performers from a simple space are helping a child do a handstand. In the background, another performer is also helping a child do a handstand.
From the Berlin Heart event: The eight performers are on stage in workout clothes, and Hendrik, the managing director, is speaking into a microphone. There are a lot of children sitting in front of the stage.
The photo shows a child's hands positioned as they should be in a handstand.
A man with a child on his lap, wearing large headphones to block out the noise. They are watching the show. In the background, you can see three performers standing on top of one another.
The Berlin Heart Event: An artist from a simple space is lifting a child
An artist from a simple space is standing in the middle, on top of someone or something. In front of her is another artist, and children are gathered around them.
From the show: An artist from A Simple Space holds a yellow balloon animal in front of him and smiles.
Several guests are standing in the Chameleon Room, talking
From the show “A Simple Space”: Six artists stand in a circle doing handstands and are pelted with small, colorful balls
A child is sitting in front of the stage with a green balloon animal. The show is underway.

On 13 July 2025, a very special event took place that will remain in our memories for a long time to come. An afternoon full of laughter, astonishment and deeply moving moments – carried by a real joy of life and a wonderful feeling of togetherness. We are still filled with the energy in the hall, the smiling faces and the many special encounters.

Together with Berlin Heart GmbH, we were able to invite children and young people who have had heart transplants, as well as their families and companions, to a very special circus experience full of joy and community. “It is an event that aims to give confidence and courage”, said Hendrik Frobel, CEO of Chamäleon Berlin, summing it up.

This was the first collaboration with Berlin Heart. The Berlin-based medical technology company was founded in the 1980s as a start-up from the German Heart Centre Berlin (DHZB). Since then, Berlin Heart has been developing, producing and distributing innovative mechanical heart support solutions for patients with severe heart failure, from newborns to adults, and has already helped more than 4.500 young patients. A moving figure, behind which lie countless stories of strength, hope and new beginnings.

The highlight of the afternoon was the exclusive performance for the invited children and young people by the Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths (GOM) with their international hit A Simple Space. “A Simple Space deals with topics such as trusting other people and believing in your own strength – and our guests this afternoon embody these messages like no one else”, says Hendrik Frobel.

After the show, things got interactive: in various mini-workshops supervised by the artists, participants were able to get involved themselves and interact with the acrobats. From trust exercises such as “falling” to handstand exercises, the young participants demonstrated their acrobatic skills. At another station, they learned how to tie animals out of colourful balloons, and in a body percussion session with Christopher Lacopetta and Lewis Rankin, they clapped in time and made music together.

Many valuable conversations took place between the interactive stations and the colourful balloon animals. Old friendships from their time in hospital were renewed and new encounters between the children and young people took place – a feeling of genuine community filled the room. The joy was palpable, the atmosphere light-hearted, and at the end of the day, our young guests went home with sparkling eyes and broad smiles on their faces.

A big thank you to Berlin Heart and everyone who made this day possible – through their commitment, dedication and support.

We have captured some moments from the afternoon in our photo gallery. Enjoy browsing through them!

Photos: Jana Kießer

Realised in partnership with

Logo of Berlin Heart

Two guests are sitting in front of the closed red curtain, chatting.
The managing director is on stage, thanking the artists from a Simple Space
A child is holding a small yellow plastic ball and is about to throw it.
Two performers are holding a young girl in a handstand
A circle of people sitting in a circle, their faces hidden, trying to make balloon animals
From the show “A Simple Space”: The performers stand in a line. It is dark; only a single spotlight shines from the side.
Some children, adults, and artists are on stage. The children want to learn something from the artists.
An artist raises his arm to show the children around him how tall they should stand.
From the show “A Simple Space”: Many people are sitting in the auditorium, looking up at the stage. On stage, the performers are standing close together, holding onto the arm of one performer, who is supporting a woman in a one-armed handstand.
Two performers are holding a young child while doing a handstand
An artist holds out a box full of colorful plastic balls to a child so that the child can take some
Managing Director Hendrik Frobel welcomes guests in the lobby
The Chameleon Hall, empty and bathed in dim stage lighting. An artist peeks through the curtain and waves.

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