Canadian circus outfit Flip Fabrique take centre stage at Brighton Dome for this year’s Twixtmas aerial outing.
Their show, Blizzard, is marketed as a ‘children and family’ performance for those aged six-plus, and there’s a strong tween contingent in the crowd. Promising a ‘crazy, poetic and gentle journey’, does Blizzard bring the depth of wonder and enchantment we’d hope for from a post-Christmas show?
The opening moments feel modern and stark. With minimal set, props and jarring music, it’s an oft-told story of winter, but perhaps unexpected for this particular audience and very specific time of year. As the show goes on, the cast come together in moments of play that give a greater sense of joie de vivre. There’s also a stronger awareness of when to be still, creating that somewhat elusive sense of wonder. This emotional heart comes and goes during the course of the show. The inclusion of a live musician on-stage is a nice touch, which when incorporated into the action fully, creates a lovely sense of atmosphere.
Top performers include Elizabeth Steele and Lucia Rial, who excel at aerial displays and trampoline skills respectively. Ben Kaufman is pure joy with his signature salacious energy. His moment to shine injects on-brand sass and sensational hula-hoop antics.
The building blocks are there for Blizzard to be a powerful visual spectacle that leaves a strong impression. In practice, the aerial displays are undoubtedly impressive, and get some gasps from the audience, but seem almost recital-like in the perfection of their execution. There’s some slapstick interludes that raise many a smile, but almost feel like they belong to a different performance from the poised, carefully-calculated trampoline displays we see. They’re both great in their own way, but do they belong to the same show?
Blizzard doesn’t feel like quite the right fit for this tween/family audience and very specific time of year, but there’s still plenty to enjoy here for true fans of the circus.
Reviewed on 27 December 2025.
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
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7
