★★★★★
Adelaide Fringe. Cirkidz. The Peacock @ Gluttony. 5 Mar 2023
Wow. Just wow. This is Cirkidz?
They were good in previous productions, for instance last Fringe’s offering Ropeable, but this is next level. Cirkidz is not just speaking up; it’s speaking a whole new language. It’s a harder, sharper language, working on that nebulous area between the body and the brain. The conversation is big, bold and at times brassy. It’s vulnerable, and it’s questioning.
Mettle is a new circus show and apparently “explores the mental toughness and passion that propels you toward achieving your vision for life”.
I’m never sure about these vague descriptions of shows – if you didn’t see them written down you would be clueless half the time, and just enjoy the production for the visual performances. Because there is certainly plenty of that!
But this time, there is a spoken narrative. It comes after you’ve settled down a bit, after you’ve noted that this is a step beyond what you’ve seen them do before. It all starts to shift shape a little, to make its own sense, to cement your suspicion that you’re seeing something special. The body and the brain. The connections. The disconnections. The pain. The passion. The laughter. The despair.
The ensemble work is exemplary. While there are some standout performers, there are no stars. The troupe work together, each forming part of the whole – there are no passengers here. And the athleticism is remarkable. They have honed their craft; movements are not left to dangle in the air or slide to a slow stop, they are sharp, clean, precise. Feet and arms stop when and where they should, incising the space before moving on.
Mettle also notes “that if you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, you will light that sucker up yourself”. The light is used as motif for a number of the vignettes and the strength of these performers’ - body and brain – just shines through.
There’s plenty of humour to be had here as well – the ‘don’t touch the sweets’ routine is both hilarious and impressive, as the artists contort those bodies under and over themselves. Musical skills are also on show, as some of the cast take to the bass, keyboard and percussion for a beautifully performed vocal piece.
There is so much more to be said here – the seesaw routine is exciting, thrilling and unmissable. Towers of chairs have you holding your breath, and red cotton string will have you chuckling.
One often hears young people described as the performers (or audience) of the future. Forget that. These are the performers of now. They’re match fit, and the show is exemplary. Congratulations Cirkidz. With reference to another of the amazing routines, you’ve nailed it!
Arna Eyers-White
When: 13 Mar
Where: The Peacock at Gluttony
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
