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The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl

 
Ross Anthony Review by Ross Anthony 3 Published: 17 Aug 2025 Assembly Roxy Show Dates: 4 Aug 2025-17 Aug 2025

There is a point in every child’s life where they wish to be a slithering monster or want more than anything to fly. That’s the essence of The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl. It takes two contrasting fantasies and pairs them in the duo of Sidiq Ali and Vee Smith, the creators and performers of the work. Through them we explore themes of friendship, struggle, dreams and belonging.

Accessible and inspiring circus for the next generation

This is a show about self-acceptance and connection. It delivers beautifully. You can tell from the outset that it’s geared towards children and, as a first introduction to circus or aerial, it is masterful. There is a great deal of accessible dialogue, delivered with a childlike enthusiasm and earnestness that is quite heartening. It paints the picture of two dramatically different ideals, portrayed by two very different-looking people, and delivers the message that it’s quite all right to enjoy and aspire to anything. It lands more as a storytelling piece than upper-echelon circus.

The aerial work is gorgeous, principally on Chinese pole, though it isn’t necessarily the most eye-catching. It is impressive and emphasises joyful trust between the performers. Their performance is incredibly characterful and left me feeling like I was watching two children at play. That said, it seemed slowed so a younger audience could appreciate it. Ali and Smith are veteran circus performers – I know they’re capable of something tighter and more rigorous. That said, I understand entirely why they made this creative choice. It leaves this as accessible and inspiring circus for the next generation, rather than the masterclass they are capable of. A little tightening and this could easily be a four-star – or higher – show for all.

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The Blurb:

Two friends perform breathtaking aerial shows. They fly, spin, hang from the rooftops and fall out of the sky... But they weren't always so glorious. How did they transform from feeling like outsiders to the fantastical creatures they always knew they had inside them? A touching story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. This dynamic and visually stunning aerial show for ages 8+ explores the universal yearning to belong and the joy of friendship. Part of MadeInScotlandShowcase.com