Spraoi Day One: Weird, wonderful and wildly entertaining

Spraoi 2026 is officially in full swing!

Here are some of my highlights from Friday’s festivities.

Tutti in Vallgia (Everything in a Suitcase) is as charming as it is funny. Think slapstick circus. Artist Luigi Ciotta and his many, many suitcases will have you laughing, sometimes cringing, but always entertained.

Tutti in Vallgia will be performed again on Saturday at 4 pm at John Roberts Square and at 1:15 on The Mall on Sunday.

The weird and wonderful Um Belo Dia is by artist Dulce Duca from Portugal. Her show is beautiful and strange in the best way possible. One minute Duca is enchanting the children in the audience while handing out flowers and the next chasing them like a monster. Kids and adults alike could not get enough.

Check this one out for something truly unique.

And if you missed it the first time, Dulce Duca will perform Um Belo Dia again on Saturday at 3:15 pm on Gladstone Street and again on Sunday at 4:15 pm.

Death from Laughter was a complete mystery going in. All I knew was that, under no circumstances do you take photos or video and that it was brilliant. I can confirm both of those things are true.

Death from Laughter is a play about three clowns trying to deal with an unfortunate case of a woman who dies from laughter at one of their shows. Chaos issues!

And that is all I can say on the matter.

But note that you will need a ticket and this show may not be suitable for children.

Other acts included the energetic Wave Around the World who opened the afternoon and got everyone on their feet.

Japanese Taiko Drumming by German group Kibo Daiko was mesmerising.

Fountain of Joy was so very silly you may want to see it twice.

If you missed it on Friday, don’t worry, you will get another chance. Fountain of Joy will be on again on Saturday at 3 pm on the Mall and also on Sunday at 4:30 pm.

Also performing were Windbags, Tandoori Tunes, Truth!, Dream of the Shaman and L’Homme-Orchestre.

Those are on my list today with the first performances kicking off from 1 pm. 

See you there!