Stumble danceCircus: Box of Frogs

Stumble danceCircus: Box of Frogs

Stumble danceCircus: Box of Frogs

 

Presented as part of the Unlimited season at the Southbank Centre, Stumble danceCircus’ 70 minute piece is unusual in that the issue it explores – bipolar disorder – is one of the most ‘invisible’ disabilities in society today. How do you tackle manic depression on a stage? With a non-stop sensory assault of hyperactive acrobatics, rope work, trick cycling and hula-hooping of course.

Slow to start, deliberately so, director Mish Weaver’s seven-strong troupe (including two musicians) lead us on a stream of consciousness tour of the illness, but never preach nor try to explain themselves too graphically, allowing the absurdity of a life lived with such radical highs and debilitating lows to be metaphorically represented by the passion and extremities of the circus artist.

Each performer represents, in some way, a different facet of bipolar disorder, from Kaveh Rahnama’s comedic non-stop acro-mania and toy elephant obsession, through to Paddy Waters’ infuriatingly joyous ringmaster, whose frequent outbursts of ‘A-ha!’ cause much mirth in the stalls. Throughout, the vaudeville Tom Waits-esque live score provides a perfectly pitched pared-down musical narrative, its sleazy oompah drawl constantly matching the mood swings of the performers and their movements – especially Waters’ trick cycling, the spectacle of which drew frequent gasps from the audience. The interaction of video and animation, including Chris Patfield’s on-screen juggling and seamless integration with the live performance, provides another dimension to the piece without feeling forced.

Lauren Hendry and Silvia Pavone offer a less manic view with their measured and highly skilled performances of acrobalance and hula-hooping respectively, making bipolar disorder look almost fun until Lyn Routledge’s tour-de-force assault on the corde lisse makes you yearn for release and some down time. Eventually we’re rewarded with exactly that as Box of Frogs climaxes beautifully, the music, movement and mood beginning to wind down into a trance-like state of drugged out calm. Box of Frogs leaves us floating on air – an emotional rollercoaster cabaret.

www.stumbledancecircus.com