The Nose Dive Assembly

Exploding on to the stage with an infectiously energetic rendition of Pink Pony Club, The Revel Puck Circus instantly set the younger members of the audience bouncing on their seats, and from this initial high the tempo never wavers as they cavort, roll and fly through their show, Nose Dive Assembly: Birds of a Feather.

The feisty character of Pierrot reinvents the traditional roles of both the ring master and the clown, combining them into one charismatic, comedic misfit, and linking the different circus acts. Pierrot’s interludes punctuate the show, using a spoken theatrical narrative that steers but does not overwhelm the circus, as she marvels at her friends’ abilities and attempts to fulfil her own heart’s desire – to soar through the sky as they all do. Sadly, for Pierrot, but happily for the audience, her various hairbrained efforts, including metamorphosizing herself into a human drone, play out as disastrously comic failures.

Now to the circus acts themselves, and it is tough to know where to begin as every single act deserves five stars and a detailed review of its own. The cloud swing touched the heavens (and definitely test the height of the tent) with tummy-fluttering inversions, the aerial loops act was clean, clear, fun, and full of (seemingly) effortless perfection, and the artist full of warmth and joy, a welcome departure from the usual brooding, oiled Adonis routine often featured in shows such as this. The cyr wheel act was hypnotizingly brilliant, and when wires were attached to the performance platform and it lifted off the ground I was literally on the edge of my seat. Not only did the cyr wheel act continue with stunning skill on the suspended platform, but a second cyr wheel performer rolled out to enact a kind of double-decker, two-storey show performed underneath the first swinging platform. Mind Blown! The teeterboard was high, flippy, dangerous, cool and surrounded by an impressive number of crash mats, and the hand balancing act seemed to suspend the basic laws of gravity, the aerial hoop strayed into contortionist territory, creating ethereal otherworldliness. Sadly, the performance I attended did not include the wheel of death as its big finale, due to performer injury, but the show remained an extremely impressive, high quality fresh take on contemporary circus.
The costumes which were variations of flowery boiler suits were, simple, functional and reminiscent of children in a playground which complimented the overall tone of the show and the characters of the performers.

The costume choices clearly reflect the mission of The Revel Puck Circus to ‘Reject the spectacular body and embrace the body that does spectacular things,’ (quote taken from their website). Indeed my children and I were captivated by these positive role models of physical ability. Lastly, although it seems strange to call a show packed full of gasp-inducing, awe-inspiring and death-defying acts wholesome, it it true that the main themes of the show, as poor feisty Pierrot attempts to fly, are definitely inclusion, persistence and success with the help of friends. I highly recommend this show as an exciting, unforgettable, heart-warming experience for all ages.

Woohoo moment: (as agreed by the whole family) The very first time the cloud-swing artist let go and sailed upside-down across the length of the tent, before flipping the right way up again, somewhere amongst the lights at the top. Gasps, screams and whoops all round.