Cirque Africa: A Night in Africa

Cirque Africa was a night that left me shocked, amazed and in hysterics. I was expecting the show to be a flop; the car park was relatively empty and there was no line.

There were two big top tents. The first tent was for pre entertainment, and included a jumping castle, music, a small stall and snacks for the show.

The second tent was where the show would take place. We shuffled through the big top which was said to hold just over 1000 people, though for tonight’s show many seats were left empty.

The night began with a live African band performing original songs. The host runs onto the stage and immediately captures the audience with his vibrant personality, pulling people from the crowd to join him on stage for a laugh. He had our attention. Once he knew we were all focused out came the performers.

During the two hour show over 30 artists performed showcasing talents in strength, juggling, contortionism and balance.

It must be said the stars of the show were the contortionists. The pair folded their bodies in unimaginable ways, crawling around the stage leaving the audience in shock.

Wide eyed and full of gasps I couldn’t help but let out a few ‘ahh’ and ‘ouch!’ noises. Contortion can be such an unsettling talent to watch, but rather than repulse viewers the two performers captured the attention of everyone in the room.

The young contortionist even giggled at peoples’ expressions as she crawled the stage, folded backwards and in half.

I was entertained for every bit of the show. Even during the intermission I stayed in my seat, excited for what was to come next.

Local Canberran Blake Greenhalgh attended the show after watching the trailer online.

“I looked up the trailer for their tour which gave me an idea of what to expect. It showcased acts like dancing, music, balancing tricks, juggling and a few others,” he said.

Mr. Greenhalgh said his favourite performance was a talented female juggler, who escalated the items she was juggling throughout her act.

“My favourite act was the juggling. The performer laid on her back and juggled a range of items with her feet. It started off simple, flipping a ball, then she started juggling chairs and tables with her feet as well. Her performance was extraordinary,” he said.

The show is sadly under viewed and deserves better recognition for its ability to entertain. Cirque Africa’s performance is one worth watching and will continue in Canberra until May 29.

By Bec Lawrence