I'm going to splice December/January together because there's not so much on at the turn of the year, plus this edition is coming pretty late. So...
December business, briefly: if you're in Brighton or reasonably near it then Petit Mal at the Dome reflects none of the values of the season. I hear they even have a new ending where they kick Santa Claus to death! Maybe you want to see that? Is it even true? Book now to find out. If you're in Paris then the circus pick is Les Colporteurs, but more importantly I need you to check out this robot dance thing at the Theatre des Champs Elysees & then e-mail me about it afterwards to report, because I am heavily pro-robots but not at all sure about that 12 second trailer. If you're in London and have cockles capable of warmth (non-English readers, educate yo'selves) then there's Enfila't's Folds, but other than that perhaps save your money for January and the London International Mime Festival.
I want to make one strong LIMF recommendation while the ticket window is still wide open...
Spitfire Company, One Step Before the Fall. Not circus, but in a way so close and relevant – performed in a ring (a boxing ring), searching for something profound past physical extremity and limitation, almost a near-death experience. Amazing music as well, performed live by singer Lenka Dusilová, who's apparently a little bit famous in the Czech Republic. I did an interview with the show's choreographer and original performer, Markéta Vacovská, which is swirling somewhere in the pre-publication ether but which was one of the most interesting I've done in recent memory (one sentence essence: 'I feel as if I would take off my own skin to allow the audience to perceive what is concealed beneath: the soul of the fighter who never gives up.') For LIMF the only real caveat is that Marketa is being replaced in London by another performer, so there's a chance that it could be not as transfixing and incredible, but still. Can't wait to see it live.
Also at LIMF: Phia Ménard / Compagnie Non Nova with Vortex and L’Après-Midi d’un Foehn. I sort of wonder a bit about how the company feels about these always being short-handed as 'the plastic bag shows', but it's true – they're chock full of plastic bags (look at dem bags). I wrote about Vortex a few years ago and don't really have anything to add; L’Après-Midi d’un Foehn is the young audiences version – less dark/hellish – and also worth seeing. Other circus shows are Compagnie MPTA / Mathurin Bolze's A Bas Bruit (don't really know anything about this), Compagnie 111's Questcequetudeviens? (haven't seen it, but interviewed Bory and the dancer Stéphanie Fuster here, and sounds interesting), Fet a Mà's Cru (liked their shorter work fine; curious to see this longer one live). Also there's Mat Ricardo's Showman, which is more in the variety line, but probably hits the spot if that's your thing.