I have been a traveler my whole life
- Text: Alexander Olin
- Jul 22
- 6 min read
Who better to portray a traveler than circus director Trolle Rhodin himself? He is a twelfth-generation traveler with his circus, Brazil Jack. The Traveler's editor-in-chief, Alexander Olin, had a moment with Trolle, a few days before this year's 126th Swedish premiere.
The circus wagons are neatly lined up on Mölleplatsen in Malmö like a small city in miniature. There are different wagons for different things. One is a laundry room, another a costume storage room, and a third a kitchen. We meet in Trolle's 53-square-meter American camper van with a beautiful mahogany interior.
– I've lived through different eras. For circus art, everything happened so quickly, from a traditional circus with a lot of exotic animals when I was growing up to a completely animal-free circus, says Trolle Rhodin, 36 years old.
It was his decision to remove the circus animals and the traditional clowns.
Does that mean the audience is changing? Or are there still many children?
– It's still the same audience, but I like to expand so that the target group becomes broader. I think it was last year that 40% of ticket buyers were adults without children. That was a pat on the back for me. It showed that I've taken it to a level where adults come. You don't need an excuse to bring the kids to see the show.
How many people can fit in the circus tent?
– A thousand people. The tent is specially made. There aren't many of them in the world, so they've become attractive to film, theater, and other performances. People want to rent it. And I don't let the tent go without myself coming along, and my crew setting it up.
You have a priest who blesses the tent before you start touring.
– Yes. Every year, a priest blesses it. It's a tradition for us. We are about thirty people from twelve different nationalities who perform. Everyone has their little moment when they are in contact with a force in some way. You don't talk about it, but you see it backstage. Someone who is going to do something dangerous prays just before with their arms out, looks up, and makes a cross. For me, it's when I lift the masts of the tent, which are 16 meters high. They weigh 800 kilos each.
And how many people pull up the masts?
– No, you can’t pull them up by hand. They’re pulled up by machines. A long time ago, elephants pulled them. They tied a bunch of elephants together, but that was before my time. And then there were trucks and winches. And now I have electric winches I designed myself that pull them up.
Can you ever relax from work? Or are you in the tent all the time?
– I don’t see it as a job. It’s kind of constant, all the time. In the afternoon or evening, I often sit and answer a few emails. Sometimes it’s in season, sometimes it’s not. Then it’s a bit calmer.
When you’re done touring, can you go on holiday?
– There’s really nowhere we’ve gone that hasn’t involved seeing a show or meeting someone for future work. Last year, it was Dubai. We had a couple of friends who were working on a show called La Perle in Dubai, and we had to see it. In February, we were in the US and met the director of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the world's largest circus, where my grandfather had worked a long time ago. So all the trips are connected to work in some way. And we saw Drone to Life by Cirque du Soleil.
If you ever want to relax, what do you then do?
– I'm constantly at work. I mean, say we're at the beach. I can't sit in the sun for more than an hour. My girlfriend Susan likes it. I can't, because I get stressed. We probably never completely let go of work. It's our passion and our lifestyle. We don't go to work and don't come home from work. We don't see it as work, but as a lifestyle.
Susan, who is a sixth-generation circus artist, chimes in:
– For him, it's actually when the day is over, and he wants to eat.
– Yes, that's true. I love food, Trolle replies.
What's your favorite dish?
– It depends on where I am in the world. I want a steak or a hamburger in New York and Cuban food in Miami. When I turned 18, I started directing shows. I direct many shows abroad. These days, of course, I do it less, because I have chosen to focus more on Brazil Jack and its development.
How many places will you visit in Sweden this year?
– It can vary. I add, I take away. We have almost 300 travel days a year.
What motivates you?
– It is not about motivating myself to do this, but about a lifestyle. It is not that I need power or motivation to travel. Another question is: what motivates me to pursue this here? And why am I passionate about this? What I think it is, it is kind of the result of being able to make others happy. I have been like that since I was little. When I was in a group of people as a child, I always wanted to be the clown. Because I was somehow happy to make others happy or kind of shock them.
An example of shocking your audience is the “death ball” in the show. It is a very old circus art developed in Asia over a hundred years ago, in which performers ride motorcycles inside a large metal ball.
– We have developed the act, so now there are five motorcycles riding around in it. The human cannonball is also one of those things.
How many people are in your team?
– There are 30 of us in this production. Then there are 5-6 people in the office who are not traveling and handle press, marketing, finances, the website, and ticket sales.
Some of the artists come by car, others by plane or truck.
– And everyone should have accommodation, food, and the opportunity to practice. For example, Susan does an aerial act together with another girl. Because we were in Budapest, Hungary, for two weeks, and practiced together on what they will soon be performing here. Then we were in Italy, training with the Americans. Then they come here. So we often train in different places around the world, because it's the most economical.
Does the royal family come to your performances?
– Queen Silvia was with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl-Philip when they were little. I received an award from the king last year in the Blue Hall at Stockholm City Hall. It was a great honor.
How are you as a person? Are you good at delegating?
– Lately, I have become good at delegating. I feel very strongly that I get things done faster and better when I do it myself. But at the same time, I like teaching others.
Your brother committed suicide when you were 23. Did you have time to mourn him?
– No, not then. Over time, I was able to do that. He is doing much better where he is now. But of course, it was terrible for everyone. At the same time, there was a change for all of us. You start to think. Instead of looking down on people who have drug and alcohol problems, I think that maybe it is an illness. Now, my brother was neither an alcoholic nor a drug addict. He was generally depressed. And there was no real explanation as to why. But at the same time, you become more interested in people. If someone has a problem, I listen more and try to say a few words that can help.
Was it difficult to get rid of all the circus animals?
– It was very difficult. But that's when I decided to get my little dogs as a small compensation. Their names are Gucci and Bomba. I miss the animals very much. But at the same time, I know that I made the best choice. I don't regret it for a second. And I was praised for that, too. I received the Swedish Animal Welfare Association's honorary award for it.
You who have traveled so much, what is your favorite place to go?
– I can't just say one favorite place, but several. In Italy, there is a place we go to quite often called Desenzano, on the Lago di Garda. We love walking along the lake there in the evenings.
What is your favourite place in Sweden?
– Visby is fantastic. I've been to Visby every year. But there are parts up in Norrland that are also absolutely incredible. You don't understand how beautiful Sweden is until you visit Norrland. The stretch between Kiruna and Gällivare is particularly special, for example. And then we all go in a caravan. Then Gällivare and Jokkmokk. That stretch is also very beautiful. If you go there in the morning, there are a lot of animals. You see reindeer, whole herds that come. Strömsund is also incredibly beautiful.
The sun has set by the time the interview is finished. Now they are all sleeping soundly, before it is time for them to rehearse for the premiere.
Watch Brazil Jack's huge Swedish tour and book tickets here: braziljack.se
This article was originally published in Resenären #1 2025.
