Duck Pond by Circa at The Soraya in Northridge

Swan Lake meets The Ugly Duckling in Duck Pond, a contemporary circus piece from the Australian troupe Circa. It plays one Sunday afternoon at The Soraya in Northridge, and it is the kind of show that makes a strong case for leaving the center of town. If you are scanning for things to do in Los Angeles that feel different from the usual concert or play, this is a good candidate.

When: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Where: The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91330 Tickets: $49-$109 through The Soraya

What to expect

Circa is known for using extreme physicality to tell stories, and Duck Pond blends two familiar tales into one. One is the classic ballet about a swan and a spell. The other is the children's story about a duckling who does not fit in. Both are about identity and finding out who you really are, and the show tells that story with aerials, acrobatics and bodies stacked, lifted and thrown across the stage.

The company describes the evening as ballet meeting circus, with exuberant energy and some surprising moments of tenderness. Expect no spoken-word plot to follow. The movement carries the narrative, so the show works for readers who know the ballet well and for anyone who has never seen it. Families with older kids and curious teens often do well with this sort of physical theater, though check The Soraya's page for age guidance before you buy.

Getting there and planning

The Soraya sits on the Cal State Northridge campus in the San Fernando Valley, so give yourself extra time for the drive and for parking. A 3:00 PM start makes this an easy Sunday matinee: you can have a late lunch nearby beforehand and be home before dark. Daylight saving time ends that same morning, so double check your clocks before you head out.

Prices run from $49 to $109, which varies by seat location. Buy through the official venue page linked below, not a resale site, and look at the seating chart before choosing. If you are building a list of LA events this weekend, or looking ahead at upcoming events Los Angeles has on the arts calendar, add this one early, since a single-performance run can sell through its better seats.

Details at a glance

The show runs about two hours on the published schedule. Circa has toured widely, and this is a rare Los Angeles stop. For more arts picks across the city, browse the arts and culture section, and see our other Valley listings for ideas to pair with the afternoon.

Official event page: The Soraya. Listing: Discover Los Angeles.