one4review | On 20, Aug 2025

Revel Puck Circus and Underbelly reimagine the classic tale of the Ugly Duckling, a children’s story we all know well, and put a self-aware and high circus spin on it. What’s great here is that before the show has even started, we hear a spat between Lou (the duckling) and the narrator about whether ‘ugly’ should even be in the title, and it’s this break of the fourth wall that really helps us buy into what this show is all about: not taking itself too seriously, having fun, and using acrobatics and performance to make the whole family whoop and cheer.

It’s a story about belonging being delivered to us through bodies flying through the air, Lou, a bright yellow and big-hearted duckling dreaming of more as she leaves her pond on a journey into the unexpected. She meets a vegetarian cat named Scout (he’s clumsy too, and at first I thought the performer had actually fallen off the stage); however, you quickly realise that was part of it, but I think a bit of foreshadowing may have helped, as I think all the parents in the room panicked for a moment, but all was well and we rolled on. Next is a tortoise called Presley with sprinting in her blood and something to prove.

We see the classic tale updated, and although some of the narrative feels a bit lost and we never do get an answer to why Ugly is in the title, you can’t help but enjoy the ride. Along the way the show mixes acrobatics with dance, swings and an audience turned into a storm, and it’s all fun, and you bob along as you feel the warmth in the underlying message: how great it is to finally find your ‘tribe’. This is a show with a very inclusive message throughout, with strong circus routines and charismatic performances. Overall, it’s an easy recommendation that will wow young and old. A heartwarming hour that celebrates the importance of being different and true to yourself, even if that means leaving the nest.

****

Reviewed by Matthew

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows

11.00 (1hr)

Until 23 Aug