Tag Archives: Underbelly Festival Southbank

Rouge

Rouge

★★★½

Underbelly Festival Southbank

Rouge

Rouge

Underbelly Festival Southbank

Reviewed – 29th August 2019

★★★½

 

“packed with skill, showmanship and a great sense of fun”

 

Billed as circus for grownups, ‘Rouge’, directed by Elena Kirschbaum, certainly walks a very fine line between good fun and full on debauchery, displaying a combination of both traditional acrobatic circus performances, and very risqué burlesque acts. Take for example the dominatrix with a strap-on carrot, whipping roses with dangerous precision from the genitals of unicorn subs – not likely to be seen at the likes of Cirque du Soleil.

We’re introduced to the show by a very saucy leather-clad Paul Westbrook (also the show’s choreographer), who sets the playful and inclusive tone for the evening, welcoming “ladies, gentlemen, and friends beyond the binary.”

The soundtrack mirrors Westbrook’s welcome to all, varying drastically from bass-heavy electro swing to Shirley Bassey’s ‘Big Spender’; a hula-hoopist wearing a lampshade on her head performs first to Nora Jones’ inoffensive ‘Turn me On’ (Get it? Because she’s a lamp?) and later reappears topless, to Nicki Minaj’s much more raucous song by the same name.

There are no safety nets, and the space isn’t quite as lofty as a normal circus tent, so there are many occasions where the performers are higher than the lighting rigs, almost grazing the ceiling, and falling with what is no doubt a calculated risk, but to an untrained eye, looks genuinely treacherous. Of course there’s ne’er a moment where the acts themselves look worried, and all are clearly highly skilled but it does feel a little bit homespun and not quite as slick as it might be. This does seem, however, to be what keeps the evening from slipping into excessive seediness, despite the overt hedonism and sensuality of some of the acts: it’s the sense of community, and the enjoyment the cast clearly still takes from their joint performances, and their giddiness as they comes off stage.

The sense of danger and titillation is fairly consistent throughout, and there is a slight lacking in theatrical build. With a variety show of this nature, I would generally expect each act to top the next, and for the show to end in a giant extravaganza of shock and awe, which unfortunately it does not.

Regardless, ‘Rouge’ is packed with skill, showmanship and a great sense of fun. An excellent way to spend a late summer evening, but be sure to book a babysitter, this is not one for the kids.

Reviewed by Miriam Sallon

Photography by Ian Georgeson

 


Rouge

Underbelly Festival Southbank until 15th September

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
Soap | ★★★★★ | May 2018
Circa: Peepshow | ★★★½ | July 2018
Little Mermaid Circus Sensation | ★★★½ | July 2018
Aliens Love Underpants | ★★★★★ | August 2018
Black Cat: Bohemia | ★★★★★ | August 2018
Little Death Club | ★★★★ | April 2019
On Reflection | ★★★★★ | May 2019
Transit | ★★★★ | May 2019

 

Click here to see our most recent reviews

 

80 Days: A Real-World Adventure
★★★★

Underbelly Festival – Secret Location

80 Days: A Real-World Adventure

80 Days: A Real-World Adventure

Underbelly Festival Southbank

Reviewed – 25th July 2019

★★★★

 

“bring a curious mind and a competitive spirit and you’re guaranteed to have a jolly good time”

 

80 Days: A Real World Adventure by Fire Hazard Games is a live, interactive role play (that includes using your phone as part of the game) where participants have eighty minutes to dash around London and make necessary purchases for their expedition. In order to do this there are riddles to solve and clues to collect. The more money you accumulate, from solving each challenge, the more purchases you can make for your expedition which heightens your chance of winning.

Greeted by Marta Kane (stage manager) at the Underbelly Festival on the Southbank, we were provided a pre-adventure debrief whilst our team names were confirmed. Although many people play as a group, teams can be singular or up to five members.

We were then introduced to the rather spiffily dressed Pendleton “The Baron” (Nicholas Anscombe) who explained, with great enthusiasm, the task ahead and started all the competitors on their way. On our journey we met a few other exciting characters such as the feisty, no nonsense American explorer, Nightingale “The Navigator” (Kelly Long) and the ever kind and rational Hawkins “The Botanist” (Matt Vickery).

Fire Hazard Games make “…high-energy real-life games…to make competitive, character-led experiences with players at the centre.” 80 Days: A Real World Adventure is no exception. It cleverly encourages the exploration of London by immersing the players into a theatrical treasure hunt. It’s an ingenious way to incentivise even the most jaded Londoner to open their eyes with renewed wonder, as they discover previously unnoticed gems that only a city like London keeps.

Of course the actors were a fundamental element of the whole production. Friendly, witty and completely dedicated to their roles, Long, Hawkins and Anscombe were a pleasure to watch and interact with. They also displayed great empathy and patience to those who, perhaps, required a little more time to figure out the logistics of the game. The attention to detail did not go unnoticed, from the character’s costumes to the layout of our maps. Much kudos to Elizabeth Simoens (Lead Game Designer and Production Manager) and the whole creative team whose efforts and directing choices have positively paid off.

80 Days: A Real World Adventure is something fun and different to do around London. It would serve as a brilliant birthday gift and is an innovative way to go sightseeing. When you embark on this wild caper, be sure to bring comfortable shoes and sustenance to keep you going on your voyage. Most importantly, bring a curious mind and a competitive spirit and you’re guaranteed to have a jolly good time.

 

Reviewed by Pippin

Photography by Sofia Romualdo

 


80 Days: A Real-World Adventure

Underbelly Festival Southbank until 29th September

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
Soap | ★★★★★ | May 2018
Circa: Peepshow | ★★★½ | July 2018
Little Mermaid Circus Sensation | ★★★½ | July 2018
Aliens Love Underpants | ★★★★★ | August 2018
Black Cat: Bohemia | ★★★★★ | August 2018
Little Death Club | ★★★★ | April 2019
On Reflection | ★★★★★ | May 2019
Transit | ★★★★ | May 2019

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com