Reviewed by Fiona Talbot-Leigh, Sunday 5th March 2017
This wonderful family friendly show, Cirque Africa, is a feast for the senses, boasting live music, dance, and acrobatics. Upon entering the tent you are warmly welcomed as you take your seat in the comfortable and colourful surroundings.
This is Cirque Africa's first Adelaide Fringe. It has taken this group two years to make it here as they dearly wanted to be a part of the Garden of Unearthly delights but it was not meant to be. Undeterred by this , they decided to take things into their own hands, built their own tent and applied to the Adelaide City Council direct who kindly agreed to let them have the space in Hindmarsh Square, and what a great decision that was.
This is a very well priced show for the calibre and number of performers in it. Papa Africa is your ring master and director of the circus and he sure knows how to warm up a crowd. Within minutes of introducing himself, he had everyone clapping, cheering and stamping their feet and this enthusiast applause never faltered for the following hour.
This show delivers some incredible balancing and acrobatics, all performed with gusto and beautiful warm smiles. The strength and quality of the performers is unfathomable and they really push the boundaries with their skill and concentration. Some of the acts had me on the edge of my seat as I realised they were all happening right in front of me and without a safety net.
There is an incredibly talented group of male acrobats creating human pyramids in minutes and who make shimmying up a pole look far too easy. Their style and grace coupled with exceptional skill makes you realise that this is not your average circus, and the female performer who can spin and juggle anything from fabric, pots, to tables on her feet is just astonishing to watch.
Add to this mix a spirited female dancer and some wonderful live musicians and you have a very entertaining show.
There is so much colour, tempo and fun that the time just flies by. The Sunday afternoon audience loved every minute of it and the seats were filled to capacity, so it's a good idea to arrive early.
The energy that the performers create in the tent is intoxicating and will leave you feeling good long after the show has ended.
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