The Stage

Bassline Circus: Running Away

Published Tuesday 3 October 2006 at 15:30 by Liz Arratoon

Bassline’s love of both the traditional and contemporary is evident in its vibrant second show in which Victorian circus meets hip hop and artists in Leila Holmes’ old-fashioned costumes, contrasting imaginatively with those in light-wire suits and street clothes. Added to this, The Chump DJs, Ryan Willmot and B storm mix some superb tracks and VJs, Julie James and Sasqutch, scratch videos. These play on a huge screen that also displays a faded print of the film Trapeze. It stands opposite a platform, constructed like a giant turntable, for rapper mcO Z and breakdancers Bryce Davis and Martin Hopton.

This promenade performance, with the action moving around the big top, is directed by Susannah Ford. She makes the most wonderful ringmistress, bossing people around and keeping order during little tiffs between the artists. Later she turns magician and performs a few effective illusions, including sawing a woman in two and the Mini Kub Zag.

Aerial work includes Claire Crook and Natalia Colville on silks and Lyndal Merry and Freya Watson on double static trapeze. Watson is also seen on silks swing (a fabric cloud swing). Chav clowns Pemma Ricardo and Natasha McGhie return from last year with a new trick; balancing precariously on a column of chairs. Ricardo again demonstrates one of the fastest and best wrist spins you’re likely to see.

Bryony Black has a lovely hula hoops number and Simon Darling does nifty tricks on tightwire as well as with knives and whips.

All the artists wear infectious smiles of sheer enjoyment, rather than self-satisfaction, making this a really fun event.