one4review | On 16, Aug 2026

A family-friendly circus show with impressive tumbling and balancing from a talented five-person team. While some of the feats really are impressive, and we normal human beings could never dream of pulling them off, something is missing for me. In today’s competitive festival environment, the show just doesn’t offer enough to really stand out from the crowd. Music was played through a speaker; at this level and with the amount of talent around, it would be better to have some musicians involved.

I really wanted to enjoy the show more. I’m a great fan of the era’s music and the legend behind the show, but I didn’t feel the performance really lived up to its name, which is a shame. There is potential, but it’s unrealised in the current format. The theatre is packed, but for me, I’m looking for an extra element from the storytelling to lift it to a higher level. It feels like a great street performance, where I would stop to watch two or three routines and then move on, not a theatre performance lasting more than an hour. As it stands, there’s just too much repetition in the format, though much of the audience did seem to be engaged throughout, so maybe just not for me.

Would I recommend it for a family outing with children? Certainly; however, I think many children in the audience struggled with the length of the show and the lack of variety, so it is likely not for younger kids. If you’re a fan of circus-type acts, it’s also likely for you. So it’s not really a thumbs up or thumbs down, more a “watch this space” for me.

***

Reviewed by Mike

Underbelly – McEwan Hall

Until 31 August (Not 18)

17.00 (1 hour)