Based on the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, this multi-skilled company combine acting with circus acrobatics, dance and singing to recreate the haunting story of an ill-fated crew on a ship driven off course to the Antarctic and the Mariner’s curse for the needless slaying of an albatross.
With terrific energy and skill, the company effortlessly flow in and out of gravity defying positions balancing on each other’s bodies, as they fly, whirl and swing from ropes and trapeze bars.
Often it seems the sole purpose of circus is to show off the virtuosity of the performer in exhilarating acts, but this young company’s strength lies in their ability to weave traditional circus skills with lively singing, acting and dancing, ensuring that there is a place for narrative in circus without too much distraction.
The ghostly and at times chilling atmosphere of the tale is well suited in the white tiled space of the dissecting room in the disused veterinary college, where natural light from the sky light windows enhanced the sun bleached costumes beautifully designed by Lise Marker.
Tim Lenkiewicz has compiled additional short excerpts from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, along with poetry by Judy Grahn and Henrik Nordbrandt to vary the overall rhythm and form of the spoken word, and makes use of recorded songs in Norwegian and Finnish, as well as live singing and music.
Some of the text was lost at times with the echoing acoustics of the space, but this was made up for with the swell of sound during some of the more dramatic moments, where the intimate close proximity of the audience added to the thrill of combining daring acts and drama.
Dates: til 15th August, 5.30pm
Prices: £11 (£9)