Ess brings strange, wonderful creatures to life on stages around the world.
Ess Hödlmoser’s body of work uses contemporary circus to explore the relationships between risk, spectacle, gender, performance, and transition. Their work (VACUUM [2020], BARBETTE [2023]) pushes the boundaries of contemporary contortion, using the acrobatic body as a site of investigation into the meaning of spectacle, gender identity & performance, perception, memory, and more.
Ess’s duo contortion act with Troy James was awarded the Prix Moulin Rouge at the 40eme Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, the Special Prize of Gomel State Circus at the 6th International China Circus Festival, and a Golden Buzzer in France’s Got Talent.
Ess is CINDY (The Boys, Prime Video), M (Motherland: Fort Salem, Freeform), and S (Station Eleven, HBO Max). Their unique athleticism has has brought disturbing, contorted characters to life on commercials, TV, and film productions like “IT” (2017), Titans, The Expanse, Flatliners, A Simple Favour, The Strain, and much more as a full-ACTRA member performing both stunts and creature work (represented by Da Costa Talent).
You can find Ess’s zines (Writing the Circus, THE INTERVIEWS) and special-edition project-specific hardcovers (SLOW CIRCUS series) here in the online store. Stay in touch through the mailing list, or see what Ess is up to on Instagram or Tiktok (@strangewonderfulcreature)
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