The progressive character of the Csiky Gergely Theatre in Kaposvár in the 1970s–1980s was significantly influenced by the visual world, set and costume designs of the neo-avant-garde artist Gyula Pauer (1941–2012). Critics of the time regularly praised Pauer’s inventive sets and his grand visual gestures on stage. Although the stage sets also reflected his ‘pseudo’ artistic attitude (the examination of illusion and reality), his works in theatre went beyond this: most of them were characterised by witty, creative solutions, unusual perspectives, and a poetic use of materials and colours. In my study, I will focus on the costume designs, photographs, and brochures preserved in the archives of the Csiky Gergely Theatre, especially those related to the theme of the circus. Pauer’s drawings and sketches on this subject are a fascinating combination of theatrical and artistic thinking, which has only been marginally discussed.