The Night Owls

Founded in 1985 by Michel Nowak , Les Noctambules is a resource center dedicated to circus arts located in Nanterre, in the Hauts-de-Seine department. Situated at 220 avenue de la République , in the immediate vicinity of the University of Paris Nanterre, the organization has been developing an original project for several decades where transmission , amateur practice , professional training , contemporary creation , artistic residencies , dissemination and cultural action are closely linked.

Today co-directed by Satchie Noro and Olivier Verzelen , Les Noctambules champion a vision of circus based on high standards , effort , solidarity , creativity , knowledge transfer , and mentorship . The aim is to foster exchanges between different levels of practice rather than strictly separating amateurs, young people in advanced training programs, and professional artists.

A key feature of Les Noctambules is its close collaboration with professional artists. Throughout the year, the site hosts resident companies and functions as a true laboratory dedicated to contemporary circus and street arts.

Designated a "Place of Creation" by the Île-de-France Region, Les Noctambules pays particular attention to emerging artists. Each year, the organization supports emerging artists through delegated production and contributes to several projects through co-productions. Residencies may lead to work-in-progress showings and public events.

The venue also serves as an important resource for established professional artists. Three times a week, the fully equipped training tent is available to them for regular practice. Professional workshops and courses are also offered, and artists have access to a fabrication workshop and storage space.

Les Noctambules also develops a significant arts and cultural education program. Projects are created in collaboration with schools, cultural, social, and medico-educational organizations in Nanterre and the Hauts-de-Seine department. The organization is also among the schools selected by the French Federation of Circus Schools to document and promote arts and cultural education practices in schools.

The local initiative pays particular attention to people who are distanced from artistic practice for social, financial, medical, or geographical reasons. Les Noctambules thus work with very diverse audiences and develop tailored projects with their partners.

This commitment is particularly evident in the priority neighborhoods of Nanterre. Long-term projects allow children and teenagers to discover circus arts, participate in creative workshops, and gradually build a relationship with the venue and the artists.

The Imagine project, developed until June 2026 with young people from several neighborhoods in Nanterre, is part of a long-term artistic and educational approach aimed at promoting access to circus arts. It extends several years of work carried out by Les Noctambules in the context of urban policy.

The issue of disability and accessibility is also present in the project. Les Noctambules works with medical and educational partners and welcomes adapted proposals. In 2026 , the school-tent will notably host Envol , an aerial silks workshop specifically designed for people with visual impairments.

The school's students are regularly given the opportunity to present their work. The end-of-year show brings together children, teenagers, and adults under the big top and showcases the creations developed during classes.

Les Noctambules also participate in events organized by the French Federation of Circus Schools. In 2025 , the school's teenagers presented the creation " Les ados rables " at the National Meetings in Auch, as part of the CIRCa festival.

The venue's events also contribute to encounters between amateurs, professionals, and local residents. Les Noctambules notably organizes Brut d'Arènes , a festival dedicated to circus and street arts. The 11th edition took place in 2026 and paid tribute to Michel Nowak , the venue's founder and long-time director.

The organization also participates in the Parade(s) festival, a major street arts event organized by the City of Nanterre, as well as in various cultural events and partnerships in the area.

In 2026 , a significant milestone was reached with Les Noctambules joining FEDEC , the international network dedicated to professional training in circus arts. This membership as a partner confirms the unique nature of the project, situated at the intersection of amateur practice, pre-professional support, and the professional sector.

• Acts If
• Circus Arts Development Plan for the Île-de-France Region
• Departmental Scheme for Artistic Education in Hauts-de-Seine
• Nanterre Music House
• Paris Nanterre University
• circusnext
• Peripheral Area
• Street and Circus Cooperative – 2R2C

Les Noctambules thus constitutes a true ecosystem dedicated to circus arts. A child can discover a first practice there, a teenager develop an artistic project, an adult take regular classes, a professional artist train, while a company can build a new creation there in residence.

This constant interplay between transmission , research , creation , and territory makes Les Noctambules a unique place within the circus scene of the Île-de-France region. More than just a recreational school, the organization supports diverse pathways and actively contributes to the development of contemporary circus and street arts in Nanterre and the Île-de-France region.