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Creators:Les Doigts de la Main Directors: Shana Carroll & Gypsy Snider Reviewer: Elizabeth Vile The Public Reviews Rating: Flying Entertainment in association with Theatrical Management Group’s production of Traces was a highly enjoyable, energetic show full of circus skills, acrobatics, dance and striking visual effects. The pace of the piece changed constantly and the combination of live and recorded music, as well as the use of projections and video footage kept the audience entertained from start to finish. The company was made up of five artists, three men and a woman who did a mixture of solo and group circus acts. Their enthusiasm and enjoyment for each other’s acts contrasted with their concentration and professionalism during their own. This, coupled with the technical aspects really helped to heighten the tension and excitement of the audience. The highlights for me had to be the finale of Act 1 and the finale of Act 2. I won’t spoil the surprise but the audible gasps that came from the audience. The standing ovation given by some audience members during the curtain call visibly demonstrated the effect the show had on a theatre going public that ranged from primary school children right up to the grand parents that accompanied them. I also enjoyed the sections that involved basketballs, skateboards, a large metal hoop and giant poles. The one area of the show that dimmed my enjoyment slightly was the connecting pieces that joined the individual acts together. These pieces gave the cast a chance to connect with audience by sharing snippets of their life. The audience were shown baby photos, found out about each performer’s character traits and about specific events in their lives. Although this was interesting I found it difficult to make these insights connect with the acrobatic acts that surrounded them and I could [...]

Created by: Les 7 Doigts de la Main Director/Choreography: Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider Reviewer: Malcolm Wallace The Public Reviews Rating: There are plenty of circus style stage spectaculars doing the rounds these days the vast majority of which are stunning pieces of entertainment. But there can be a distinct lack of originality to some of these productions and a certain generic styling, which leaves audiences yearning for something that little bit different. Traces by Les 7 Doigts de la Main (The 7 Fingers) is just that, something different. First seen at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival and following successful seasons in London, New York, Montreal and Paris, Traces is currently mid way through a UK tour and is a show not to be missed! Combining traditional circus skills with urban sports such as basketball and skateboarding, an eclectic mix of dance styles and music, audio visual effects and some good old larking about, Traces is utterly fascinating from start to finish. Part of its success is that the whole thing is played quite tongue in cheek and the performers, whilst clearly highly professional, maintain a sense of fun and idiocy and relish making fun of themselves and each other. There are five performers, all very rounded in their abilities but each with individual specialist acts, which are highlighted at various points throughout the evening. Philip Rosenberg’s gymnastics item shows incredible strength and balance whilst Genevieve Morin’s aerial display is impressive in its flair and beauty. Antoine Carabinier-Lepine’s solo spot involving a large ring is stunning to watch. Antoine Auger faltered once or twice during some of his more tricky moves but carried on regardless and Jonathan Casaubon provides many moments of comic relief. Interspersed around these solo items are group set pieces which are varied and slickly choreographed. Particularly enjoyable is the skateboard [...]

Artistic Director: Phillip Gardey Adaption by: Tony Wilkie-Millar & Tian Run Min Original Music by: Mr Wu Jia Ji & Ms. Zhang Hongtao Reviewer: Poppy Helm The Public Reviews Rating: Rarely have I been so excited before a performance – a trip to the circus obviously brings out the child in me; a little ironic considering the surprisingly elderly audience in attendance at The Lowry – for the most part, the grandkids seem to have been left at home. In many ways, this is quite a grown up show; the cast are undeniably talented, bringing together martial arts, acrobatics and dance in an understated but thoroughly impressive fashion. This is not only entertainment, but a celebration of world class expertise, featuring both the famous Shaolin Warriors and a lead actress, Cao Jing, with three martial arts titles to her name. The narrative, based on a popular Chinese story, is somewhat extraneous, it’s purpose serving to link the acts together in a show that is spectacular enough to stand on its own. This journey is led by the twitchy Monkey King and every-hungry Pig, the latter inexplicably dressed as a New York taxi driver that left me wondering whether I was missing an ‘in’ joke somewhere. The opening scene sets the bar high with Chinese Dragons that move in perfect synchronicity as they wiggle and bounce to oriental music. Every movement is carefully choreographed, from the cast’s hands to the blinking eyes of the Dragons. The odd stray hat or dropped Diablo are inevitable in such an ambitious show but the acts appears sufficiently effortless that you can simply relax in the pleasure of watching rather than cringe in anticipation of the next blunder. Although I was initially skeptical about how well a circus act would work under a proscenium arch, the cast succeed [...]

Writer/Director: Dominic Champagne Composer: Violaine Corradi Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: Hitting the UK shores with their latest production Varekai, Cirque du Soleil are currently performing at the Royal Albert Hall to sell out crowds and it is easy to see why. Premiering in 2002 Varekai tells the story of Icarus who falls from the sky, hurt and wounded he lands in an unknown world full of mystical beings and fantastical creatures.  As Icarus is brought back to health he explores his unknown world and forms relationships with some of the inhabitants of the land, which it seems culminates in the ultimate fairytale happy ending. Director/Writer Dominic Champagne attacks all senses with his vibrant and stimulating production. There is so much taking place in this theatrical wonderland that it is simply impossible to mention everything that wows or mesmerises in this 2 hour tour-de-force.  If anything this is perhaps the shows weakest link as no matter where you look, you will always miss something equally exciting somewhere else on the stage. As with all Cirque du Soleil shows creating an environment that is full or mystery, excitement and atmosphere is paramount to helping the audience engage emotionally to the experience, as let’s be honest the narrative seems to be an almost second thought, brought in to link the various acrobatic displays on show rather than being its main driving force.  Alongside Champagne’s direction the show is stunningly underscored by Violaine Corradi’s uplifting gypsy folk melodies and haunting tones beautifully sung (one would love to name the performers personally but with not being given a programme, and one not willing to present £12 of my hard earned money to buy one, I am unfortunately unable to) by two dynamic performers. The cast perform on a striking metal forest like set, with up [...]