This is circus, but with a Spiegeltent twist: a naked man straining against cling film before rolling over giant blue balls; a dancer twisting and flexing on the floor like a woman with zombie limbs that leaves you feeling like you’ve been to a chiropractor.
There is sass and humour too, mostly from sultry MC Sophia Urista who introduces the evening and keeps things moving in a blaze of sequins and songs from the heart – or possibly somewhere a little deeper.
From Chinese pole work with suspense-creating drops, a dryly nonchalant cry wheel performance, classic juggling, and an impressive teeterboard finale that sees spectacular somersaults and an unlikely striptease, the show matches technical precision with jokes and verve.
The Finnish troupe don’t bring quite the scale and emotion of Norfolk and Norwich Festival favourites Circa, but they do have a lightness of touch that make this a more ribald and riotous affair, making it a proper circus for adults.
They rip through the 70-minute show with obvious enjoyment, which definitely infected the audience on this opening night. They might be a little too odd to run away with, but they’re great for a one night stand.
