one4review | On 12, Aug 2026

We start with thumping music; a large bass tone sets the mood in a circus tent as ladders lie on the ground. We later discover that all the sounds heard are made entirely from the ladders themselves, a fascinating touch that I would have liked to know before going in, so hopefully that adds something for you. Once seated, the ladders come to life, and our talent is revealed from underneath. The ladders look heavy, almost intimidating, like industrial scaffolding; these aren’t the garden variety.

The performers work together to move the ladders into various angles and shapes to set up high-performance set pieces; at no point does anything look easy. There’s a lot of counterbalance at play to keep the metal frames stable, while we witness gravity-defying feats. Performers are catapulted through the air through the smooth and calculated redirection of weight.

At the core of the show, The Pieces could really refer to multiple aspects; every member plays their part to make the whole act work, the ladders form various pieces of different setups, and at various points, performers are forced to put blind trust in one another.

The show moves at a fantastic pace, and you aren’t left to let your eyes wander for long, and we’re engaged throughout. It’s hard to pick out a key moment that stays with you, and with everything on at the Fringe this may become lost in memory sooner rather than later. The show offers palpable energy, and there’s a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on with one of the ladders at the end, if brave enough!

****
Reviewed by Matthew
Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows
Until 29th August (not 18 or 25)
13.05 (1hour)