Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

La Clique

 
Johanna Makelainen Review by Johanna Makelainen 4 Published: 1 Aug 2025 The Famous Spiegeltent Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-24 Aug 2025

La Clique remains the crown jewel of the iconic, velvet-draped Spiegeltent, where high-class circus artistry meets boundary-pushing cabaret. The Olivier award-winning show is celebrating 21 years of blending classic and contemporary circus, making it undeniably chic and deliciously sexy.

La Clique is more than a show – it is a homage to the very essence of circus

La Clique always promises the unexpected, even for seasoned fans who have seen many of its signature acts return. Every night brings a curated selection of top talent, such as aerial contortion strap specialists Tuedon Ariri and LJ Marles, and cabaret singer Aurora Kurth.

Many performers reveal completely different sides to their artistry. David Pereira first impresses with an operatic aerial silk routine before contorting himself through a full-body shaving act. Similarly, Tara Boom’s riotous hula hoop “human popcorn machine” is followed by elegant paper parasol juggling.

Among the comedic interludes, Captain Frodo’s return is a particular highlight. The self-proclaimed Incredible Rubberman bends, folds and twists his body through impossibly small spaces, pairing physical improbability with razor-sharp timing – popping a limb or two in the process.

A new comic treat for me was the Daredevil Chickens, aka Anne Goldmann and Jonathan Taylor, whose vaudevillian quick-change routine earned the biggest laughs of the evening. And who knew there was such a thing as mouth-to-mouth banana juggling – something to try at home as a sexy late-night game (or not). The evening’s cherry on top was Ursula Martinez’s legendary Hanky Panky magic striptease, first performed at La Clique more than 20 years ago.

What makes La Clique eternally chic is its seamless fusion of raw talent with an undeniable sense of cool. The acts are visceral, ethereal and delivered with in-your-face intensity. If you are bold enough to sit in the front row, prepare for exhilaratingly close encounters – a splash, a touch or an intimate moment that only adds to the show’s cheeky charm. And I mean cheeky literally.

For newcomers, La Clique is an electrifying introduction to contemporary circus at its best; for veterans, it is a reminder of why we always keep coming back. La Clique is more than a show – it is a homage to the very essence of circus.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

Leave your troubles at the doors of The Famous Spiegeltent and step into Edinburgh's own mélange of cabaret and circus, the international Olivier Award-winning sensation, La Clique. Come raise a glass to the 21st Birthday of this trailblazing icon of entertainment! Sexy, funny, dangerous, this special edition of the show, with its ever-changing cast of legacy meets latest, is a triumphant celebration showcasing visceral, ethereal and in-your-face acts. Over your head, under your skin, below the belt – hang onto your hat and strap yourself in – we present… La Clique!