A Dark Freakshow Larp
Vision
Misery. Play to lose. Grandiose scenes.
In the Bellissimos I want the participants to experience a rich saga with a bunch of odd characters, played in all their grand marvellousness. I want you to feel that spending the life in this closed, peculiar and raw culture is the best option for your character, and that the alternative: a life outside, is so much worse.
I want to see powerful relationships, absurd sibling love, peer pressure, helplessness and lost control, but also languishing love and the safety of a strong collective that in every situation, for good and bad, have each other’s backs against the influence of the outside world.
The game will most likely contain oppression regarding looks, appearance and disabilities, bullying, paedophilia, sexual abuse, racism, incest and physical and mental violence. These ethics and morals belong to the characters, not the players.
Think right, play wrong.
I want us to be able to play with topics that are sensitive, difficult and placed under taboo, since this raises the level of consciousness for us. Escalate the misery, do not block it out. This larp is not a masquerade or a Halloween party. Think dull blackness and “less is more” regarding costume and make up. Love or hate your freak, but do not ridicule it.
Fiction
The Bellissimos is about a group of freaks, circus artists and its staff that during the early 1900s are touring through Sweden. At present, they are located in Malmö, the tent is up and the make up is on.
Welcome to the best freakshow in Sweden – The Bellisimos!
Malmö
Last week, when the company was in Västervik, Mr Jensen woke up to discover that is daughter Elvira, the rope walker with the long dark hair, had gone missing. She had, during the past couple of weeks, been courted by a handsome young man with a mustache. His name was Sixten, how had joined the circus on their way through Sweden, and courted Elvira after every show. But this horrible morning, when Elvira wasn’t in her bed, Sixten was nowhere to be seen. No trace at all, no sign of life. The beautiful rope walker of Bellissimo is gone.
Since Västervik, things have gone from bad to worse for Bellissimo. The stage performances go wrong. The Little Stars are singing off key. Satan is fumbling with his knives, and no one stays after the show to pay for the equivoque extra-numbers. No one wants to be photographed with The Wilder and the number of visitors are constantly dropping.
The day before yesterday, during the performance in Karlskrona, The Lion Tamer´s lion ran amok and attacked the audience. The Hercules Woman managed to overpower the lion and kill it. Her injuries are now being treated by the company’s own doctor, The Snake Charmer.
Yesterday, The Giant broke a farmer’s arm in Kristianstad. The farmer was taken away by his friends, screaming that he would “have his revenge on the fucking freaks”.
The Albino Family has announced and been given permission by The Bearded Lady to leave The Bellissimos after the shows in Malmö, to return to their home country.
Freaks
The Bellissimo repertoire is mostly to let the audience see different kinds of freaks. A freak, in this fiction, is an individual who, in one way or another, differs from the rest of the society. Some look different, while others don’t act according to the norms. Some members of the circus have found a sanctuary for their inner freak, the one that might not be visible on the outside.
There are also several people and artist who for different reasons are a part of the freakshow family. You won’t have to look like your character physically, or be able to do what your character does. This will be played out in-game.
Style and spirit of time
The environment and the style is set in an early 20th century Sweden. Clothes and looks can be in the period of 1900-1950. Think aesthetically rather than historically correct.
In our part of the world, it’s the post war era, and the economy is going forward. People work in factories and with farming. They marry and have children. Humans are divided in higher and lesser classes; some are very rich, and even more are very poor
Divergent people are treated with shame. They should be cured or locked up in institutions. Those who can follow the norm for the average successful citizen, do so. They pay every once in a while to look at, be frightened by and laugh at freaks, and then go home and thank their lucky stars that they are not one of them.
Culture
The norms regarding gender, sexuality and family life inside the Bellissimo looks like the rest of the early 20th century society. You will most likely receive jeers for your looks and your way of life from others in the company. But since you all already are at the bottom of the society, what does a freak have to lose to live the way they want?
You are not expected to make yourself lesser or worse than you are; in your line of work you have to claim your right and proudly present what makes you unique. No one pays to see a mediocrity.
Inside the company, it’s common to use derogatory epithets about one another, to call each other names and in a demeaning way comment on gender, looks and behaviour. This is the common jargong and is tolerated inside the group. Perhaps it’s a way to deal with your own alienation and hold one’s position within the group. Perhaps it’s a raw but heartful reminder that you’re all odd, different and unloved outside the circus, but in here, you are accepted for who you are.
Meals are eaten together in the large tent when the dinner bell rings. The average salary is tree coins per week for an adult. For this, you can fill your car with gas, buy a dress, two bottles of good quality liquor, or a train ticket from Malmö to Stockholm.
There are rules and taboos within the company. All violations are handled on the inside, since no one during any circumstances wants to deal with the police or other authorities. If someone breaks a rule, the company will correct the guilty one by a communal punishment which the informal leaders, The Bearded Lady and her two closest women decide about.
Taboo
You will not kill a freak, an artist or a circus worker.
You will not stop a freak or an artist from performing. To physically or mentally stop an artist from doing their number damages the entire circus, its reputation and its economy. This also includes destroying any animals, props or tools used in the show.
You will not steal from anyone in the company. You do not take any material, personal property or similar from each other, but most importantly: you do not take any money that doesn’t belong to you. Many risk their lives during their performances and the money is the utmost reward for the risk involved.
You mind your own businesses and commitments.
You do not depart the circus unless this is planned in a timely manor, applied for and approved by The Bearded Lady. An unplanned leave damages the entire circus, its reputation and its economy.
Characters
The characters are created with some built-in relationships, but it’s up to each and every one of you to create further connections between the characters.
Read full character description for all characters here (link will open in new tab).
Gender
You’re free to choose whatever character you wish to play at The Bellissimos. There are eleven characters intended as men, fourteen intended as women, and eleven characters without a specific gender. In the character description below I have chosen a pronoun, for the sake of simplicity. This does not have to correspond with how the character is portrayed during the larp. You are, of course, free to choose a name for your character if the they don’t already have one.
Men – 11 characters
The Clown
The Giant
Dogboy
Mr Jensen
Albino Father Joe
The Lion Tamer
The Wilder
Satan
Tyco
Mariusz
Zydrunas
Women – 14 characters
Exotic Beauty 1
Exotic Beauty 2
The Fat Lady
The Four Legged Girl
Albino Mother Adelaide
Albino Daughter Madison
The Little Lady
The Bearded Lady
Little Star Nova
Little Star Vega
Little Star Luna
Little Star Stella
The Hercules Woman
The Fakir
Gender neutral – 11 characters
The Fortune Teller
The Hypnotist
The 161-year old
Renfield
The Snake Charmer
Worker Scarlatti
Worker Paoli
Worker Virpi
Worker Milosh
Worker John
Journalist Nordström
Groups and brief character descriptions
The characters live together in families or groups in circus wagons. Here is a short introduction to the groups, their living arrangements and brief character descriptions. Two persons are expected to sleep in beds that are 140 cm or wider.
The Fortune Teller and The Exotic Beauties
The Fortune Teller lives in The Fortune Teller’s wagon with a 140 cm bed.
The Exotic Beauties live in The Ballerina’s wagon with a 160 cm bed.
The Fortune Teller loses consciousness, and can during these episodes see what will happen in the future. The Fortune Teller works with The Exotic Beauties, who act out what The Fortune Teller has seen in the vision. The Exotic Beauties always dress the same and looks the same. They also do a lesbian number on stage.
This group has a scripted scene that will be performed at a certain time in front of the rest of the company. You as a group will prepare this ahead of the larp.
The Fat Lady, The Clown and The Giant
The Fat Lady and The Clown live in The Clown’s wagon, with a 180 cm double bed.
The Giant lives in The Magician’s wagon with a 160 cm bed.
The Fat Lady lives with her son The Clown and the orphan foster son The Giant.
The Fat Lady performs with The Little Lady, and The Clown entertains all visiting children. The Giant is paid to fight brave men from the audience.
This group has a pronounced game-play around bullying and incest.
The Hypnotist and The Four Legged Girl, with Mr Jensen and Dogboy
They all live together in The Popcorn Monkey’s wagon with two bunk beds.
The Hypnotist chooses people from the audience to be hypnotised. The Four Legged Girl is both a girl and a boy with four legs, shown on stage. For an extra fee, people can see more. The Hypnotist is the guardian of The Four Legged Girl.
This group has a pronounced game-play around sexual abuse.
Mr Jensen is on stage with his son Dogboy, where Dogboy gets to do tricks, bark, jump through hoops and balance on bricks. Elvira, Mr Jensens daughter, also used to live in the wagon. She was a rope walker.
This group has a pronounced game-play around grief and relationships.
The 161-year old and Renfield
They live in The Manager’s wagon with a 180 cm double bed.
The 161-year old is, apart from being known as the oldest woman alive, also The Bellissimos magician, and has the ability to influence people’s feelings. Renfield is The 161-year old’s servant and caretaker.
This group has some meta-play, since The 161-year old has magical powers. See “Techinques”.
The Albino family, The Cannibals
They live in The Knife Thrower’s wagon, with a 150 cm bed, and a single bed.
Father Joe, mother Adelaide and daughter Madison are all unusually pale and perform by eating raw human flesh on stage.
This group has a game-play around racism, and before the larp you will discuss your foreign culture and language together with The Wilder.
The Lion Tamer, The Little Lady and The Wilder
They live together in The Lion Tamer’s wagon with a 160 cm double bed. The Wilder sleep outside on the ground in-game, but off-game he sleeps in a single bed in the pavilion together with the organizer.
The Lion Tamer is married to The Little Lady, who performs with The Fat Lady. The Wilder is always kept in chains and is displayed on stage in an aggressive show full of speed, conducted by his owner The Lion Tamer.
This group has a pronounced game-play around power and impotence. The Wilder will, along with The Albino Family, create a foreign culture and language.
The Bearded Lady
The Bearded Lady lives in The Bearded Lady’s wagon with a 140 cm bed.
The Bearded Lady is The Bellissimos oldes and most reputable attraction, and is still one of the big poster names. She is the compere, the informal leader of The Bellissimo, and the one in charge, with help from The Little Lady and The Albino mother Adelaide.
This is a leader role who will lead a scripted scene.
The Fakir and Satan
They live in The Faqiur’s wagon, with a 140 cm bed.
The Fakir has a bloody number, together with her husband Satan. The husband is born with malformations that make him look like a devil.
This group has a game-play involving self harm, with lots of opportunities for make up and mask creations.
The Snake Charmer
The Snake Charmer lives in The Snake Charmer’s wagon with a 140 cm bed.
The Snake Charmer displays their terrifying snakes during the show and frightens the weakest in the audience so that they faint. After the show, they sell miracle products and miraculous salves and creams to the audience. The Snake Charmer is the doctor of the company.
This role will have physical and mentally challenging scripted scene.
The Little Stars and Tyco
They live in The Acrobat’s wagon with a 140 cm double bed, two single beds, and a 180 cm long mattress on the floor.
The four cute girls in The Little Stars perform with dance, song and acrobatics, led by Tyco.
This group has a game-play involving violence and sexual assault.
The Herkules Woman, Mariusz and Zydrunas
They live in The Mad Inventor’s wagon, with two 140 cm beds.
The Hercules Woman shows off her enormous strength on stage, assisted by her two husbands.
This group has a game-play involving polyamory and the loss of a child.
The Workers
They live in The Juggler’s wagon with a double bed, one pull-out couch and in The Chocolate Monkey’s wagon with a double bed.
The Workers do the practical work of the circus, such as carrying, digging, wood-chopping and laundry.
This group has a pronounces game-play involving racism, bullying, sexual assault and violence. The group needs to find a number of songs to be sung in-game and bring their own tools to use, such as rakes to rake the yard, axes for chopping wood, buckets and sponges to wash the tent with etc.
Journalist Nordström
He lives in The Strong Man’s wagon with a 120 cm bed.
This is a newly arrived journalist from The Evening Post, who has been given permission by The Bearded Lady to write about the company.
The purpose of this character is to document the game-play as a photographer during the larp. Journalists Nordtröm will be played by Björn-Morten Vang Gundersen.
Techniques
For game-play and safety.
The Bellissimos will be using a variety of techniques to control game-play and for safety reasons.
These are described below, but the bottom line is that it’s up to you as a player during the larp to be responsible for yourself and your fellow players in using these techniques in a wise and responsible manner.
Sex, violence and Off-game
The larp uses the techniques Off and Tap Out, that can be followed by a short sentence, i.e: Off – I do not want to kiss. Off – I want to end this scene, to stop the current play.
Sex in-game is simulated by the technique Dry Humping, where you perform the action but keep your underwear on. Players are allowed to make their own agreement regarding sexual game-play.
Both the initiating and the receiving player can, when needed, use the techniques. After that technique has been used, you start the game again, when and in a way you both feel comfortable with.
Be careful when escalating game-play involving sex and violence! Escalate it slowly, to let your co-player know what’s going on. Players not involved in scenes are not allowed to off-game interrupt an ongoing scene, except if the active players clearly haven’t realised or understood that something is wrong. The baseline is that we trust that a scene is acted out with the consent of all involving players.
If you as an onlooking player feel an off-game discomfort from a scene you’re viewing, then it’s your responsibility to leave or look away. You do not have the right to stop the game because you’re ill at ease.
There will be no technique for a receiving player to escalate violent scenes, since we don’t want to push the initiating player outside their comfort zone in what they’re willing to do or not. If you as a receiving player would like to have a harder game-play, then it’s up to you to try and provoke it in-character.
Feel free to talk about your boundaries with each other before the larp starts, or plan scenes in advance, but remember that in-game it’s always Off or Tap Out that rules, no matter previous agreements!
We will be practicing using the stop-word Off and the non-verbal Tap Out during the workshop before the game starts.
If you, during the time of play, need to communicate with a player off-game, do this separately from the rest of the players. Go off-game and say what you have to say.
Since we’re in a public place, any ostentatious scenes with sex and violence must be concealed.
The Workers
The five workers traveling with the freakshow The Bellissimos have the function to represent the outside society, the world the freaks have so many ambivalent feelings towards.
The Workers are there to remind the freaks that they’re different and not accepted anywhere except inside the circus. The Workers will, in different ways, oppress and use the freaks, the artists and the rest of the company, which in turn will answer with annoyance and polarisation.
At the same time, the company depends on the workers and are longing for their normality and natural inclusion in the world outside the circus.
The 161-year old
This character has the ability to make people do and feel things. This is made happen by the player giving a short sentence and a hand gesture, and then telling what they want you to do. You as a receiving player then have the freedom to act the magic out in the way you feel most suitable regarding other ongoing play.
Practical
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail info@lajvet.se, on Facebook or by phone.
Organiser and contact:
Caroline Sjövall
e-mail info@lajvet.se
Phone +46 739-476030.
Where
Grand Circus Hotel, Södra Bulltoftavägen 51, Malmö, Skåne.
Parking is available within the premises.
From Malmö C, take city bus 4 to Segevång, stop at Malmö Beijers park. From there, it’s approx. a 12 minute walk. You need to use Skånetrafikens app to buy bus tickets.
When
Friday 24/4 to Sunday 26/4 2026.
Arrival from 14:00 on friday for non-organised socialisation and hang out.
Be on time so that you have had the time to eat and install yourself in your wagon before 18:00.
At 18:00, it’s time to meet up and have workshops.
After this, you will be given an hour for changing clothes and make up. If this is not enough time for you, it’s ok to change before and show up at the meeting in your costume.
The game starts 21:00.
The game ends at approx. 09:00 on Sunday. After this, we all help out to clean and arrange the tent, area and wagons before we mingle and then go home. The wagons need to be emptied no later than 12:00.
We have access to the large circus tent until 15:00 for non-organised socialization and after talk for those who want to.
Age Limit
You need to be 18 years old to be allowed to participate at The Bellissimos, and no animals are allowed.
Cost
The participation fee for The Bellissimos is 2300 SEK/215 EUR.
This is included in the price:
-Lodging Friday-Sunday
-Meals and snacks from Friday night to Sunday breakfast.
-A character with some pre-written relationships and plots.
-A possibility to participate in a uniquice larp and a grand experience.
Information regarding payment will be sent out with the character offers. No paid fees will be refunded if the player is unable to attend. Should something happen that would force the larp to be canceled after 12/4, no fees will be refunded, due to the expenses for food and premises.
Food
You will be served a lighter meal on Friday before game start and on Friday night, after game-start. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner during Saturday and breakfast on Sunday is included.
Food allergies will be sent in at a later time. The food is provided by this caterer: https://valfarden.nu/.
There will be coffee, tea, fruit and snacks available in the kitchen during the larp. Alcohol is allowed. Please keep it in a container typical for the time, and drink in moderation. It’s better to play drunk, than to be too drunk to play.
Feel free to use non-alcoholic options. It’s you as a player who decides the strength of your drink. If you’re giving someone a drink containing alcohol, make sure that the other person understands that it contains real alcohol. The larp will use the word Real to mark that the drink contains alcohol.
Don’t forget to drink water during the larp to avoid dehydration!
Living arrangements
Each player will sleep in a circus wagon. You will sleep on beds and mattresses. More details can be found under “Characters”.
In beds more than 140 cm, you are supposed to sleep two. See more under “Characters”.
Please bring your own bed linen to use for mattress, pillow and duvet. Sleeping bags are not allowed!
Please note that it will get cold in the wagons at night! Bring warm sleepwear, and, if needed, extra blankets!
More information about the wagons can be found at: www.grandcircushotel.com
Feel free to bring fabrics and other things to decorate your wagons with, inside and out. Note that the wagons are quite small.
Take care of the indoor decorations! Do not use incense or candles. The big circus tent is where the company is gathered, eats, rehearse at daytime and perform at night.
Within the area, there is also a building which is the hotel’s kitchen and a pavilion. These places are off-game. The organizor lives in the pavilion and off-belongings can be stored here during the larp.
Hygiene
In the middle of the area is a building with toilets and showers with hot water.
Sleep
The larp won’t pause during the night, and undisturbed sleep cannot be guaranteed.
Course of events and times
Friday
14:00 Welcome to arrive at the venue
16.30 Off-game meal
18:00 Meet up and workshop
21:00 Game start. The entire Bellissimo company stands in the big circus tent after receiving applauses from a very small audience
22:00 Communal supper
Saturday
09:00 Communal breakfast
13:00: Communal lunch
16:00 Coffee
18:00 Communal dinner
20:00 Show!
Sunday
09:00 Communal breakfast and game-end
At game start and end, all participants must be present in the big tent
No real audience will be present at any performance. More information about this will be given at the meet up
Death
No characters are killed or leaving the circus in-game unless this had been established with the organiser.
Packing and preparations
-Clothes for your character when they’re not on stage. Warm clothes for the evenings are recommended.
-Clothes for your character when they’re on stage.
-Bed linen, towel, toiletries and medication
-Warm sleep-wear.
-Decorations for your characters wagon after your own desires.
-Props or other personal belongings that your character is using in their daily life and/or during their number.
-Music, if you want to. At the stage, there will be a speaker that you can use if you or your group want to rehearse your number during the larp. If you want to play some music in your own wagon, it’s up to you to solve it.
-You will need to make some preparations ahead of the larp. In some cases on your own, and in some cases with your co-players. Information about this is stated in the short presentation given about the characters, see more under Characters.
-Off-game-belonings can be kept in the pavilion in the middle of the area or in the wagons in bags marked OFF. Everything brought into the area and the wagons are counted as playable props.
Language
The Bellissimos will be played in english.
General public
Non-larpers will pass by on the road next to the area, since there are residents close by. If we’re unlucky, they might enter the area, despite information and cordons. If you meet someone who does not belong to the larp inside the area, ask them to leave the premises, or contact the crew.
Police and neighbours will be informed about the on-going larp, but please keep ostentatious scenes indoors.
Availability, off-game and other conditions
-The premises are not wheelchair accessible.
-You are expected to take care of your own wellbeing during the larp.
-The larp is played around the clock and solitude or privacy cannot be guaranteed.
-The larp is drug free.
-Smoking is only allowed outside and cigarette butts must not be thrown in nature.
-Alcohol is allowed, read more under Food. To mark that a drink contains alcohol, use the word Real.
-During the larp, photographs will be taken by Nikoline Krogh Gilså, who plays Journalist Nordström. The pictures from the game will be published in the closed facebook group after the game together with information about the process before publishing pictures outside the group.
-After the larp fee has been paid, you will be added to a closed group on Facebook, where all communication will be. If you don’t have access to Facebook, it’s up to you to make sure that you get all the information.
Insurance
If you want to become a member of Malmö Frifrom and by this have insurance during the larp through Sverok, you can do this at the link below. The membership is free of charge. If you’re already a member in a Sverok association, you are insured through that. https://ebas.sverok.se/blimedlem/malmofriform
Special thanks to
Joakim Sjövall for the webpage.
Gunnar Söderberg för dramaturgy.
Cecilia Dolk för relationship map.
Niklas Diesefalk, for photo, inspiration and music.
Loella Mårtensson, for photos from Bastard, inspiration and music.
Fia Idegård and Elli Garperian for proofreading the text for the Swedish version.
Simon Erlandsson, for lending coins.
Alina Olestad, Ebba Disefalk Bohström, Jeppe Bergmann Hamming for photos for the webpage.
Linn Langefors for translating the entire larp into english.
Christoffer Eaton, Fia Idegård and Elliot Libakken for proofreading the text for the English version.
Malte Rohlin, Clara Linderland, Jon Näsman, Peter Ahlqvist, Anna Andersson, Kim Bjurström, Maria Rodén, Cecilia Redner, Viktor Malmberg and many more for sounding boards, endless fb-threads and chatts about inspiration and pep talks.
Sign-up
Before you sign up for this larp, I want you to carefully read through the entire webpage and think hard about whether or not this is a larp for you. If you have any questions regarding what’s written, feel free to contact me before you sign up. Contact information can be found under Practical.
Sign-up closes at 15 february 2026.
After that you will receive a list of all the signed up players. Is there anyone on that list that you want to red-flag you have one week to reply to the organizer with this information. A red-flag does not mean that the player is automatically eliminated from the game. After this the casting process starts.
Character casting will be given based on player wishes, organisers casting and access to characters. A reserve list will be made if needed.
After that, character offer will be sent out, a list of all participants and the probable characters, and information about payment to the players offered a spot.
When the character offer has been accepted and the fee has been paid, you will be added to the facebook group for the larp, where any other information and communication before the larp will be posted. If you don’t have access to Facebook, it’s your responsibility to make sure that you get the information.
The organiser has the right to turn participants down. The organiser is also reserved the right to, for safety reasons and without further discussions, turn down a participant who is allready approved. Any payment that has been made will in that case be refunded.
Sign-up is done with the following form:
