Theatre review: Tumble Circus: This Is What We Do For a Living Underbelly Bristo Square (Venue 300)

By Fiona Shepherd
Published on 10/08/2012 15:27

Tumble Circus’ attempts to bring all the circus disciplines together under one purple roof with a cast of just two doesn’t quite work.

RATING: * * *

Tina Machina and Kenneth Fall (possibly not their real names) take on the multiple roles of acrobats, jugglers, aerial artists and clowns. The supposedly linking theme is the couple’s domestic ups and downs, which they act out through a sequence of audience interactions and annoying voiceovers deployed as a means of spinning out their act. It’s not the slickest of presentations. The pair are at their best when they shut up and get on with the acrobatics.

They make tandem juggling look graceful and effortless, but other set pieces are a tad more laboured and don’t deliver the “wow” factor. However, this Jack and Jill of all trades have mastered their closing trapeze routine, which is lithe, precise and playful.

Kids will enjoy the knockabout elements of the show and the chance to have a pillow fight at the end, but their parents may be wary of the sexual innuendos and mild bad language which pepper the hour.

Until 27 August. Today 3:40pm.