Darling took to the stage last night at the Brighton Spiegeltent and delivered a breathtaking display of daring and control.
Darling is not just any circus show. Here, we find the queen who is in mourning, and her court who are eager to cheer her up and secure their own future as well. As the performance began, the cast mingled with the audience, some aloof, others curious about what we were about to see, their distinct characters forming instantly. As soon as they took to the stage, however, we were in no doubt as to their abilities.
Seeing circus skills so close and personal is quite an experience, and the range of aerial skills on offer was really impressive. The suspended artists twisted into contortions, maintaining their balance and poise, hanging directly above our heads with no safety ropes required. What was interesting was the number of new skills they had in their display. One performer took to a very industrial-looking set of chains in high-heeled platform boots with sparkling heels, whilst another used her own hair as an anchor for her hula hoop, while also maintaining others that were spinning.
Throughout the show, the characters stay in place. We saw the young woman enter society, the queen release her inner pain, and the court fool giving us advice on love and romance. It turned a standard circus act into a piece of theatre, and it was a great hook for bringing the various acts together. Performing in period costume with carefully selected music, the whole thing was quite the spectacle. However, the skills on display were the show’s biggest hook.
Performed by Pivot Point Circus, Darling was a polished, professional performance that perfectly suited the wonderful Spiegeltent environment. The artistes had incredible skills, humour and presence, which brought the whole thing to life and made us appreciate just how much time they’d put into their preparation.
Performers:
Ellie Beale, Xélia Froidevaux, Amelia Laughlin, Ruby Buchanan, Chrys Shipley, Willow Hippley, Tomas Elian Briones Rojas
