This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe sees YUCK Circus pull down the pants of the patriarchy in a bares-all, feminist romp. Sporting kohl moustaches, the seven-strong Australian troupe take to stereotypical masculinity, their hands thrust down the front of their underwear. The fabric already bursting with impressive bulges, this group’s penchant for comedy (Ella Norton, especially) works well to harness the attention of their audience. The result is both entertaining and thought-provoking, though at times instances of humour tend to outstay their welcome.
YUCK Circus pull down the pants of the patriarchy in a bares-all, feminist romp.
Together, the all-female cast celebrate the notion of womanhood – dizzying physicality proving that their bodies can do as their male counterparts, and one better. Stunts are staggered between episodes of storytelling; drunken misadventures and “the curse of menstruation” being particular highlights. Pints are necked, shots are had and rum neat is giggled over. YUCK’s bawdy, brash behaviour is positively brilliant. It is a revolt against the standards of femininity – a protest against age-old expectations placed upon the female form.
YUCK too, take ownership of their sexuality. As they take to playing the opposite sex, they fight against fetishisation (somehow managing to defy unwanted male attention, while remaining sexy as hell). Jumping between the present-day and previous generations – in which women were more reliant on their husbands – also serves to empower both the performer and spectator. As with modern phenomenon’s such as Fleabag, YUCK aren’t afraid of the grotesque – of not being seen as ‘pretty’. A medicinal jar of Nutella says it all. Who needs a spoon? Not these gals.
Acrobatic routines showcase incredible skill also, with choreography allowing for flashes of grace and poise. However, these moments are quickly overturned, their tricks soon becoming antonymous for ‘lady like’. Ultimately, YUCK is a show of strength. An event enough to make women out of girls and men out of boys.
