Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings – he’s come from who-knows-where and he’s landed in someone’s backyard in a small village somewhere-or-other, causing quite a flurry. What is he exactly, chicken man or stargazer? The locals divide up into those who consider him to […]
Writings
Gandini Juggling: Smashed
January 18th, 2012 by Thomas JM WilsonIn this, their fourth visit to London International Mime Festival in their twenty-year history, Gandini Juggling present their most theatrical work to date. This represents the culmination of a continual investigation of the relationship between juggling, dance and theatre, aided not least by their long-standing relationship with the late, and quietly great, choreographer Gill Clarke. […]
Autour du Mime: Tell Me The Truth and Other Stories
January 17th, 2012 by Marigold HughesMaking creations about creating can be a risky business. Whilst there are moments in this two-handed collection of short pieces – performed by French mime duo Sara Mangano and Pierre Yves-Massip – where the risk certainly pays off, it is not all smooth sailing. The Child of the High Seas, one of the four pieces, […]
Baccala Clowns: Pss Pss
January 16th, 2012 by Charlotte SmithThese two clowns can’t even reach their own trapeze, so they end up playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on a stepladder. The different sized pipes from the rungs of the ladder make for an unusual triangular rendition. Baccala Clowns also enlist an audience member to balance on, without it being clear whether or not he’s […]
Cirque du Soleil: Totem
January 5th, 2012 by Dorothy Max PriorCircus and narrative: discuss. Of course, a regular linear narrative is not at all necessary in circus. Circus is, traditionally, a series of acts, including aerial of all kinds, balancing acts using various devices, object manipulation of one sort or another, and sundry ‘specialist’ things like dance numbers or magic acts (or in old-school circus, […]