The venue is perfect for a circus show. Located at the Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows is a huge blue tent with high ceilings made for acrobatic tricks (which there are a lot of).
The beginning of this show is like being backstage. The performers can be seen hyping themselves up for the performance, putting props together and just generally chit-chatting. This is an amazingly spacious venue, but this made it feel very intimate.
Most of the performance revolves around one centre prop – this was either a trapeze, a floor to ceiling pole, or silk. Here, the performers dazzle with tricks ranging from mid-air splits to controlled falling. One particularly noticeable part of the show is when one performer is frantically reaching for the other members before violently being pulled into the air again. This unique use of physical language is used to represent displacement, and it does it well.
These kinds of tricks take incredible concentration, and to be able to do it in front of a noisy crowd who are probably clapping along to the wrong rhythm is very impressive.
Inspired by the traditions of Palestinian folk dance Dabkeh, however sad at times, this is a celebration of life and togetherness, using each other’s bodies to lift one another.
The stage itself has a spotlight-like backdrop, casting shadows of the performers onto the back wall, extenuating their long lines and intricate movements.
A true demonstration of heritage, identity, and collective freedom.
Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half, 14:05, The Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 8 – 29, (not 17, 24)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-palestinian-circus-step-and-a-half
