The Stage

The Circus Space Cabaret

Published Thursday 17 February 2005 at 12:30 by Liz Arratoon

With an influx of artists from Berlin’s Variete scene, this is the least circussy of The Circus Space’s cabaret season but the combustion chamber atmosphere, with candles, glitterball and live band, is as good as ever.

Bubble-blowing legend Tom Noddy shares compere duties with absurdist Hacki Ginda. Some of his magical speciality bubbles, twinkling under the lights, almost steal the show but are challenged by Circus Space graduate Luke Wilson. Half of the stylish lukaluka, his club-juggling spot is filled with precise moves and deft changes of pace and direction. Lucie Pasquier, a more recent graduate, walks niftily up her corde lisse, includes some good strength holds and an athletic swinging descent. Her costume is perhaps a little too pared down.

Another juggler, Steve Rawlings, has a more robust and flamboyant style and quickly works up a sweat manipulating furniture and flaming clubs. His patter also scores a big hit.

The Optimists, a six-strong male/female troupe of evening class students take to the air on the flying trapeze and put on a nicely presented display. Smartly dressed, they make a series of neat passes.

These all outshine German funnyman Ginda and French funnywoman Fafa, though he makes spirits soar when creating huge smoke rings that float above heads like halos and messes about cleverly with hoop and ping-pong balls. She mostly lives up to her name and faffs around but has a brilliant trick with a smoking cigarette.

On the night, vibrant circus leaves cabaret looking less so, but it all leaves the crowd buzzing.