Cirque Beserk! – New Alexandra Theatre

2018 marks the 250th anniversary since the creation of the circus. And what better way to celebrate this form of entertainment than seeing it bought into the 21st century?

Combining traditional circus elements with contemporary theatre, Cirque Beserk! is a joyous, upbeat spectacle that should be witnessed by everybody of all ages. The whole evening is eye-popping, jaw-dropping, filled with acrobatics, stunts, danger and thrills, but above all fun. Yes, we may have seen a lot of it all before on the global Got Talent shows, but nothing compares to being in the same room as the action, knowing there is a risk of it going wrong. While I could not keep my eyes off what I was watching, my heart stopped at various moments in anticipation – heaven knows what I would have been like sitting on the front row.

These international performers are terrific at what they do in their acts. The Timbuktu Tumblers wow us with their incredible street acrobatics and limbo with fire. The bushy-haired Bolas Argentinas throws and spins his weights around creating highly-skilled rhythms as they hit the floor, accompanied by Gabriel and Germaine Delbosq who also join in and play the drums. Germaine also amazes us with her brilliant juggling skills using her feet and flames. But another sensational act is the Tropicana Troupe who, with the giant seesaw, have us on the edge of our seats as they backflip and somersault at incredible heights. Speaking of heights, the aerial acrobatics of Jackie and Laci Fossett have the audience gasping in astonishment, with the knowledge that there is no safety net underneath. Also the knife-throwing of Toni and his assistant is something that doesn’t fail to impress us.

However, The Moustache Brothers are the ones who carry the show, combining acrobatics with physical comedy, like watching an incredibly energetic silent film. They are hilarious and likable, providing a delightful, intimate contrast from the other larger acts.

The epic finale is the one we’ve all been waiting for; The Motorcycle Globe of Death. At this point we know the risk of danger has increased when it needs stagehands with fire extinguishers on stand-by. But it does not disappoint. And just when we are impressed by the Globe, it one-ups itself bit by bit and the cyclists absolutely deserve the cheer that they get by the end, in what is a death-defying stunt.

Running at only 1 hour and 45 minutes, it is a short and sweet show, but the fun never stops or drags out. I’ve never had an evening in the theatre quite like this before. This is simply entertainment at its best and this is what we need for pure escapism right now.

Cirque Beserk! runs at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until 18th March.