Double You at the International Children’s Festival was a masterclass in physical theatre
As a lifelong sufferer of FOMO I was immediately drawn to the idea of a circus performance exploring the Fear of Missing Out.
The audience was split in two on arrival, directed to either side of a dividing curtain. We were then introduced to five artists who appeared, disappeared, and reappeared in a different entertaining fashion each time.
But wait, what are those shadows and sounds from the other side of the curtain? Why are they laughing over there? Are we missing something? Did we laugh louder to make the other side believe they were missing out even more?
The concept was really well delivered in a variety performance which combined circus with acro-dance, parkour, Chinese pole, hand balancing and music.
Things got even more interesting when the sheet came down.
We held our breath throughout the tightrope walking, gasped at the incredible physicality of the performers’ skills and marvelled at their musical talent. How on earth the saxophonist maintained a tune whilst being spun round and climbed over/under is beyond me.
The audience participation was a highlight, including throwing cushions and occasionally finding yourself in an entirely different seat. Chaotic but utterly entertaining.
The word literally is much over-used but, in this case, we were literally on the edge of our seats as there truly was a sense that anything could happen next!
Double You is described as a social experiment around boundaries and identity. The two simultaneous performances, mutually exclusive yet interwoven, create one universal experience, with every spectator perceiving this exciting circus show in a different way.
Our experience was top class. Easily a full five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
