I have a confession to make: until recently, I’d never been to the circus. My closest experience were the insect performers in A Bug’s Life. So watching Edinburgh’s International Circus Festival in the multi-coloured Big Top outside a rainy Ocean Terminal gave my inner child a chance to catch up on what I’d so far missed. And my inner child was wholly satisfied.
The show consists of a variety of international acts in quick five minute performances, punctuated by comedy skits and a welcome snack break; this ensures that nothing goes on too long and gets tiring – there’s always something coming up shortly. The Festival is clearly pitched at younger children who, along with their parents, made up the majority of the audience; almost without exception, the children all loved it. The child next to me almost cried with laughter watching Rudi Bruksen’s clown act that was complete with pantomime ‘it’s behind you!’ cries. The Ukranian comedy trio, Equivokee, were met with similar approval. A Mr. Bean-esque paper aeroplane skit had the whole top, this writer included, in stitches. I still can’t work out how the English duo, Masquerade, pulled off their clothes-changing trick, and believe me, I’ve been trying.
When it came to show-stopping events, they were pulled off with style as well. The ‘Red Dragon Acrobats’ first came out in shiny silver jumpsuits, like henchmen from a bad James Bond film, and proceeded to do some truly exceptional gymnastic acts with wheels. Their subsequent tumbling and changes of costume were one of the highlights of the whole show. But hats must go off to the Bulgarian duo, Sifolini, for their fantastic ‘Wheel of Death’ trick as all around the stadium little jaws hit the floor – closely followed by ‘Wows’. Most parents were equally gobsmacked as well.
Some filler acts went on for a little too long so that eyes started to wander, and the background music was too loud for some, but most of the children and parents filing out had the same saucepan eyes of wonder. Most of them had been entranced for the last two hours, which, if you know any children under six, is pretty much an impossible feat. On that basis, I cannot but rate the show highly.
