Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble
Acclaimed Australian company Circa return to Brighton Festival with a show that combines circus and contemporary dance in a starkly sombre, breathtaking display of strength and grace. The ten people on stage continually draw whoops and applause from the crowd as they balance, lift and throw each other around the stage with seeming ease.
There’s an eerie atmosphere of anticipation as the show starts with the ominous strings of Ori Lichtik’s score building tension. The round stage is simply lit and suggestive of a circus ring. The lights go out for a few seconds and when they come back on the stage is miraculously full of people. The ten members of the Circa company have somehow teleported themselves in position. It’s the first act of magic they perform in a show that transforms ten humans into something approximating the next step of physical evolution.
There’s a studied flow to the way they move that sets them out as trained dancers. Then suddenly they jump on top of each other and create varying constellations and human structures like experienced acrobats. At times they are three or four people high. There’s a certain lack of emotionality in the way they interact, which suggests that this new human is one who is so strong it’s nothing to have someone else’s full weight balanced on their head.
They also play around with the idea of trust. One person falls and the rest of the company catches them, they do it again and this time they are left to fall. But there is no emotional response. The times they fall flat on the floor elicit gasps of shock from the audience, but it’s like the next stage of the human race have developed exoskeletons that stop them feeling pain.
Then there’s humour in the moments when they twerk and jerk around in imitation of a sensuality they have perhaps outgrown. The dynamics between the performers are merely functional, like they are machines. Other circus tricks are introduced. There’s a creative group trapeze scene and a couple of death-defying rope solos. It’s a constantly spellbinding and impressive feat of fusion choreography.
Runs until 24 May 2025
