Underbelly Circus Hub Archives

Circa Humans 2.0 – Underbelly Circus Hub

18Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

Scotland

Circa Humans 2.0 – Underbelly Circus Hub

Wow, wow, wow! My second circus of the festival (with two more to come) Circa Humans 2.0 offers a stunning piece of theatrical circus with a physicality and choreography, unlike anything I have seen before. It is a high energy, high octane, high silk infusion of circus and humanity with truthful seam running through the middle. Circus is hard enough with all the skills and abilities it entails, but then to lay on top an artistic aesthetic which makes us go away thinking not only of the turns and the tricks but of the humanity underneath is certainly an impressive feat. And talking of impressive feats the show was full of them. Against an ululating, pulsating, stamping, stomping soundtrack a gaggle of black clad acrobats, gymnastics and aerialists rotate, rock and revolve in a tho...

La Clique – Underbelly Circus Hub

So the Edinburgh festival fringe may not be the hubbling, bubbling, hustling, bustling fest of the years gone by – post Covid it's quieter slower and not as hectic, but tonight we're at the circus! We’re down in the Meadows where two huge circus rings (one wooden one) sit before us in a multi-effusion of colour. We’re trap trap trap trapping to see what La Clique has added to their production, how their programme has developed and changed over the years. It’s three years since I was last under their canvas so I’m delighted to be here again to see it once more. What wonders will this wooden O hold? Tumblers, fumblers, bumblers? And a happy ending of course? Let’s wait and see … And what we're missing in weather is more than made up for in enjoyment, fun and excitement as the...

The Dreamer: Live – Underbelly Circus Hub

One of the most heavily (and successfully) promoted shows I’ve ever seen on the Fringe, the ubiquitous posters have foretold of the coming of the boy wonder, James Phelan, long before his arrival. But is it and is he really up to the hype? Well, yes and no. Without wanting to give too much away – no spoilers here – the show is certainly entertaining. In Underbelley’s giant Spiegeltent know as ‘The Beauty’, Phelan holds court from a raised ‘in the round’ centre stage, which suits his style of friendly bonhomie. His quick wit plays on the answers from various audience volunteers and draws easy and relaxed laughs, and never in a nasty way. The biggest surprise and to some extent, disappointment, here, is that this is not really a magic show at all, in the traditional sense, but m...