Review: Circus of the Streets @ Durdham Downs

By Milan Perera, Second Year English Literature

It goes without saying that the time-honoured traditional format of circus is outdated and hence requires reimagining. Circus of the Streets certainly does not disappoint incorporating much loved circus routines with elements of improv theatre to create a show-stopping melange.

A cast of highly polished performers assembled at Durdham Down, letting their unparalleled skill do the talking in this high-octane production. The two-hour show, interspersed with a 15-minute break is tightly packed with a dynamic mix of acrobatics, aerial silk, comedy, juggling and laser dance.

The handstand artist, Rowen Kimpton rendered a highly polished display with technical brilliance and finesse, while the theatre element that runs through the production like a seamless strand kept the audience engaged.

Trapeze performers captivated the audience inside the traditional circus tent | Epigram

The audience booed and hissed fanatically, and gasps of shock echoed when a clown was pulled and twisted like a rubber mannequin. To the rapturous applause of the crowd, the masked clown revealed themselves to be in one piece.

The spellbinding aerial silk routine shifted the afternoon entertainment to dizzy heights when the performers draped, climbed and dangled from the dome ceiling to the bated breaths of the expectant crowd.

The LED-clad glow performers delivered a spirited dance routine to a medley of foot tapping 80s music. The spectacle was brought to a fever pitch with a dazzling display of laser beams. The jugglers and break dancers made their acts looked effortless, but the cracking of a whip kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Performers incorporated acrobatics and gymnastic routines into the performance | Epigram

The unlikely showstopper of the evening was neither an axe throwing act nor a flame thrower, but a hugely entertaining comedy feature deftly lead by the resident comedy compere/clown. What appeared to be a silly slapstick sketch blossomed into a full-blown routine with active participation from the audience members who were handpicked by the compere. The rapport between the compere and the audience was immediate and brought a thoroughly entertaining programme to an end.

By looking at the thunderous standing ovation from the audience it was certain that they were thoroughly entertained for the evening. The Circus of the Streets seem to push the boundaries of the traditional idiom of circus into a whole new meaning which makes it still relevant in the current entertainment scene.