The Chinese State Circus and Shaolin Wu-Shu Warriors

Published Wednesday 4 January 2006 at 16:40 by Liz Arratoon

For the first time outside China, Phillip Gandey has combined customary Chinese State Circus acts with Shaolin Temple martial arts, Wu-Shu warriors and artists from the Peking Opera, including the Monkey King narrator, who provides the historic background to the action

Fans of the original Chinese State Circus will welcome back the dazzling acrobatics in the hoop-diving and Chinese pole-jumping routines, as well as a strong man, an amazing human-candelabra contortionist and the exquisite-looking antics of a female duo on double bouncing high-wire. But the stand-out is a simply superb comedy slack-wire act, where seemingly impossible balances are executed faultlessly.

For exponents and admirers of increasingly popular martial arts, there are super-human strength and mind-over-matter displays, with bricks being smashed on heads, a human bed of nails sandwich, finely-balanced fighting on the tops of a ‘forest’ of pillars and much bare flesh unmarked by metal bars and sharp objects.

Other beautifully costumed characters from the Peking Opera include the quick-change masks of the Mystery Known as 100 Faces and the Flying Daggers, where sleeves made of extremely long lengths of fabric conceal dangerous weapons.

Careful consideration of the overall look of the show has resulted in a most successful transition from big top to theatre. The ‘ring’ is screened by a series of flats and lighting and dry ice add to the atmosphere. Binding these three traditions together in this lavish and colourful production is a clever move that will attract new audiences and thrill the whole family.