Kicking off the festive season with a touch of magic and theatrics, an exclusive show is coming to Lisbon’s Espaço Laboratório (Parque das Nações) on December 17 and 18. Co-created by aerialist and producer Mika Naidoo, Once Upon The Air is an acrobatic theatre performance that reimagines classic fairy tales through movement, aerial artistry, and cinematic storytelling. The South African-born entrepreneur and marketeer, based in Lisbon, makes her international performance debut with the show, blending her storytelling skills with her acrobatics hobby.
Staged with creative input from members of Little Lion Entertainment, the award-winning UK team behind The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience, Judge Dredd Uprising, and Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience, Once Upon The Air combines contemporary circus, dance, original staging, and atmospheric lighting to create a wordless storytelling journey.
Featuring international aerial artists performing on silks, hoops, straps, and ropes, and bringing iconic characters — from Cinderella and Snow White to Rapunzel and Red Riding Hood — into the air, the performance invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the magic of imagination, transforming familiar narratives into physical and emotional experiences.
Beyond its mesmerising visual spectacle, the show also aims to make a genuine impact on the community. Once Upon The Air is collaborating with Lisbon Project, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable and underserved populations throughout the city. All attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or warm clothing to donate to those in need in Lisbon this winter. “Art should not only inspire — it should uplift the people around us,” says Naidoo. “As we bring these fairytales to life, we also want to bring warmth and support to those who need it most.”
Tickets cost €30 and can be purchased at Eventbrite.pt.
