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The Clock Girl is a poetic circus opera for all ages, in which a timeless fairytale offers a contemporary perspective on how our clothes are made. Inspired by The Little Match Girl, the performance invites audiences into the world of a child who faces a sometimes harsh reality with imagination, courage, and creativity.

The story draws a clear yet accessible connection between past and present: from 19th-century textile factories in Flanders to today’s global system of fast and cheap fashion, where clothing is often produced under difficult and unfair conditions. The implications of child labour and exploitation are present, but approached with care and sensitivity. For its historical background, the project was developed in close collaboration with the Industriemuseum Ghent. The Clock Girl ultimately chooses hope, using imagination as a force that encourages awareness and change.

Performed solo by soprano and circus artist Liza Dedapper, the story comes to life through live singing, acrobatics, and playful, magical imagery. This 25-minute mini-opera is a brand-new creation, with a libretto by Mien Bogaert and music by Jeroen De Brauwer (piano and cello on tape, with live vocals).

Conceived as a street opera for children, the entire performance takes place on a small trailer transformed into a miniature theatre. Opera quite literally steps into the open air — close, accessible, and memorable — and ends with a positive invitation to reflect on what we wear, buy, and pass on.