Circus Spectacular: Adelaide Fringe 2024 Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 4.5 stars for action-packed family fun
Review by Carla Caruso
There’s just something about the experience of going to the circus — from the big top to the razzle-dazzle and the death-defying acts!
Circus Spectacular is the latest such outfit to roll into town, as part of the Adelaide Fringe, at Ellis Park/Tampawardli. It’s a brand-new production by Australia’s Ashton family dynasty, which has a rich history dating back to the 1800s.
Think thrilling acrobatics, high-flying stunts, hilarious clowns – and almost as many sequins as at a Taylor Swift concert! This was a non-stop, action-packed production of family entertainment like no other.
Highlights included a fluoro-clad aerialist performing in a hoop, suspended from a giant chandelier, while a singer warbled.
A troupe of dancers also wore Barbie-esque pink and twirled about to Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night. In this, I felt like I had a front row seat at the Barbie movie, sans Ryan Gosling.
As well, a juggler in sequinned trousers tried his hand at juggling a number of things, from balls to batons. And it was actually quite heartening when, for his last trick, he attempted juggling umpteen white discs, though failed to catch them all, despite several goes at it.
He walked off-stage, looking a tad disappointed and like his mindset had shifted. However, it was a good lesson for the kids that, in life, you aren’t always successful, but you can keep trying. And it didn’t take away from the unbelievable feats the juggler did pull off beforehand with aplomb.
The pièce de resistance was the wheel of steel. Two buff, male performers ran, skipped, and jumped on this double-headed, metal contraption while it spun at speed – sometimes even while blindfolded!
How they did it all without a safety net, I have no idea. It looked like they even tripped sometimes and I’m not sure if that was part of the act, to keep you on the edge of your seat, or not. At any rate, my heart was in my mouth the entire time.
At the end of the one-hour production, the ringmaster asked the crowd: “Did you all enjoy the show?” He got a roar of approval. (I also walked away feeling like I should take up Pilates or dance classes – the performers are all so fit!)
Circus Spectacular is on throughout the Adelaide Fringe, until Sunday 17 March 2024. The group also has an adults-only, cabaret cirque show as part of the festival, dubbed Infamous.
Step right up and be amazed!
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
For more information, please visit the Adelaide Fringe website.
At Play & Go Adelaide, we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post. The Play & Go team review via media accreditation and when kindly invited.
All photos by James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide (unless specified)
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