Wow! I was blown away at last night’s press preview performance by A Simple Space, a no-frills show direct from Australia which “champions the incredibly artistry of the human body over traditional circus gimmicks.”
Could you solve a Rubik’s Cube while balancing upside down on your head in front of an audience? Would you ever want somebody standing on your face or jumping on your back while you yourself are standing atop another person? And who’s up for being slung meters into the air to be caught considerably close to the floor by four different performers each grasping onto a different limb with perfect precision?
Pared down to T-shirt attire, basic lighting and little else save for lots of muscle, flexibility, grace, humour and friendly one-upmanship – the six fellows/one gal Gravity & Other Myths acrobatics ensemble behind this thoroughly entertaining hour of ouch defying feats and novel stunts leaned on their own ability, training, and trust in each other – and little else – to amaze a thoroughly appreciative crowd.
I’ve been a member of enough mostly Londoner audiences now to know that a standing ovation in this town is not easily come by. The enthusiastic everybody-sprung-from-their-seats send off we gave the Simple Space acrobats was perhaps this most appreciative I’ve seen at any London show. That in and of itself should serve as ample recommendation to get you down to Udderbelly to see this Aussies do their stuff before they head off near the end of May.
In addition to the chance to see amazing feats of strength, endurance and daring, it was just really nice to realise that – with Udderbelly now open – summer is almost here! I very much enjoyed sitting outside near the river having a Pimm’s and lemonade and soaking up that last bit of early evening sunlight at the festival grounds.
A Simple Space runs from 21 April to 24 May at Udderbelly Festival, located on the Southbank, between Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye, just off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Find out more at udderbelly.co.uk.
