Posts with the label circus
Showing posts with label circus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label circus. Show all posts
Friday, 13 January 2023
Kurios, Cirque du Soleil, Royal Albert Hall | Review
Kurios, Cirque de Soleil
Royal Albert Hall
Reviewed on Thursday 12th January 2023 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Since its creation forty years ago, Cirque du Soleil, the Quebec based circus, has performed a number of shows with a variety of themes, always including their spectacular aerial and acrobatic routines. Currently playing at the Royal Albert Hall, Kurios is more of a traditional circus show, mixed with a whole heap of steampunk elements.
The storyline is incredibly loose and doesn't really matter, but it basically follows a 19th century inventor who creates a machine that opens the doors to a mystical new world. The cabinet of curiosities reveals a number of oddities that truly amaze and have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to Stéphane Roy's set design, The Royal Albert Hall has been transformed in to a vintage wonderland, with old-school lightbulbs and suitcases adorning the stage, while music is poured out of record players; all creating a transformative atmosphere that sets the tone without overpowering the performances. There's also some excellent lighting (Martin Labrecque) which helps to further the esoteric vibes of the whole thing.
Performance wise you couldn't really ask for more in terms of skill and energy, and I can only imagine what the physio and insurance bills must be for such an über talented cast. From trampoline somersaults to otherworldly contortion, there are tricks which have you holding your breath and hoping for the best. The precision with which the cast perform is impeccable to watch and the sheer amount of acts is quite impressive. At the start of the show, it's such a maelstrom of action that you need a hundred eyes to not miss anything.
It's hard to discuss the show's contents much more because a lot of the magic comes from being surprised so I don't want to give too much away. What I will say is that this show is a steampunk extravaganza, with some incredible wow moments, and Kurios is absolutely worth a visit for an evening like no other.
Tickets for Kurios are available at https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Sunday, 4 October 2020
Cabaret All Stars, Proud Embankment | Review
Proud Cabaret
Proud Embankment
Reviewed on Friday 2nd October 2020 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
With theatrical nights out so few and far between (for obvious reasons) each opportunity to experience live performance is a real treat. With the weather getting colder and the nights getting longer, Proud Cabaret is a perfect remedy for the gloom which is so often prevalent these days, and is a treat for anyone craving some glitz and glam in their lives; plus you get to see West End superstar Kerry Ellis headline the night.
The evening takes place at Proud Embankment, a bustling venue under the arches of Waterloo bridge. You're escorted in by ushers draped in feathers and sparkles (including a glitzy face mask, of course) and it almost feels like entering a speak easy where unknown adventures will take place. The tables in the venue are socially distanced and you are asked to wear your own face mask any time you stand up or move around. As well as the performances the ticket includes a wonderful Japanese fusion three-course meal and a welcome cocktail, provided by head chef, Antonio Vacca. The food is outstanding, and a show in itself.
The show/event itself occurs in the round over two levels. Each table has a great view of the action and the varying levels of the acts themselves means every view is completely unique. The night is jam packed with world class circus and cabaret performers who keep you on the edge of your seat and completely invested from start to finish. The whole thing feels very vintage but with a modern twist; there's classic burlesque numbers mixed in with mime, sword swallowing and aerial work. There's no story or dramatic structure as such but the whole thing flows well and feels very dreamlike. Each week features a slightly different line up but they are all high class and high quality.
The through-line of the show is Kerry Ellis who appears periodically throughout the evening to wrap us around her finger with her powerhouse vocals. She is a certified star who controls the stage with elegance and power in perfect balance. Ellis' rendition of Diamonds Are Forever is completely brilliant and like each song, is followed by rapturous applause.
It's a treat to see any sort of live performance these days, but performances of such high standards make it even more of a treat. A night of decadence which evokes the Jazz age, Cabaret All Stars is definitely worth a visit.
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Soap, Spiegeltent | Review
Soap
Spiegeltent
Reviewed on Thursday 10th May by Lucy Jardine
★★★★★
On a sunny evening in May, spending an evening in a dark circus tent might seem like a bit of a waste of the good weather. Why would you want to avoid the sun and warmth to sit in the dark and get wet too? Don’t we get enough of that already?? The sacrifice was, however, worth it. What a fun, uplifting 70 minutes!
The show, somewhat erroneously entitled Soap (there is no soap in evidence, just lots of water) is, in essence, an acrobatic show by six extremely skilled acrobats from across the globe: Russia, Canada, Germany, Ethiopia, Spain, Portugal and Germany, where the company hails from. Their unique device is to use bath tubs and water to display their skills, and are accompanied by a wide range of music, sung by the American soprano Jennifer Lindshield.
From trapeze work, to juggling, partner acrobatics, the aerial hoop and yes, using baths and water as their props, these performers are at the top of their game. What makes them stand out is not just their strength and agility, but the combination of these with gracefulness, humour and a little bit of audience participation.
The tent is small, enabling spectators to get up close and personal with each of the performers as they perform their acts individually and collectively.
If you want to spend an hour of pure entertainment and have some fun into the bargain, don’t miss it – as long as you don’t mind getting a little damp!
Soap is at the Spiegeltent until June 17th
Tuesday, 5 December 2017
La Soiree, Aldwych Theatre | Review
La Soiree
Aldwych Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 4th December 2017 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★
La Soiree is an Australian-born variety show which premiered in London in 2010. Evolved from La Clique which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, it features a whole roster of artists and acrobatics and definitely makes for an entertaining night.
Whilst it is entertaining, I must say this I don't feel that The Aldwych is the perfect venue to showcase it. Being too close to the front or too far back means you miss a lot of the action. I also feel that the large space of the Aldwych makes the show feel commercialised and takes away the intimate feel which is so special in variety performances; the way the round has been created also prohibits the freedom for some acts. Although the theatre is large, the way the stage has been designed means the acts have very little space in which to showcase themselves.
However, the show itself has some spectacular moments and is full of energy. Personal favourite moments included LJ Marles's aerial performance to 'Dirty Diana', Mallakhamb India's exhilarating act in which they spring up a pole with extreme ease and agility and Amy G's hilarious flamenco scene in which an audience member, Willy, was hilarious placed in the action. Her quick wit brought on side-splitting laughter!
Although I enjoyed most of the acts, I felt the pacing was a little funny and some things fell as little flat. The Daredevil Chicken act for example, was a complete 180 on what had come before and was not to my taste. Whilst throwing pieces of banana from one mouth to another is very impressive when I can't even catch one piece of popcorn, macerated food being spat into one another's mouths is not for me. Of course this is done to get a reaction but didn't feel to me like it fit with the rest of the show.
Overall however, I did enjoy the show. It's genuinely funny and extremely impressive. From Fancy Chance swirling from the ceiling by her hair to Leon and Klodi's emotive dance, there's definitely something everyone will enjoy and it's the perfect show to have a little tipple at in the build up to Christmas!
For tickets and information about the show, visit https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
photo credit: Brinkhoff Mogenburg
Thursday, 19 May 2016
The Raunch, Spiegeltent | Review
The Raunch is a show starring the Most Wanted of the international cabaret and circus scene and featuring a toe tapping, disco-hoedown soundtrack.
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