Three circus performers take us behind the velvet curtain, revealing the harsh realities of acrobatic life, particularly for women approaching middle age. Lena Ries, Anke van Engelshoven and Romy Seibt are all ultra-talented show ponies, but as they deadpan early on here, ‘we all know what they do with old horses’. Wrapping their personal stories around mesmerising routines on aerial ropes and straps, or dancing to Depeche Mode and Take That, the tone stays mostly tongue-in-cheek. Defiant, but with a sharp sense of the ridiculous, they poke fun at the patriarchal nonsense that means a female contortionist will often be looked upon sexually, asked if she’s ‘like that in bed’, but a male clown won’t be asked if he’s funny in the sack. 

Touching on material covered in still hungry’s first show Raven (which came to the 2019 Fringe), Show Pony slips into sequin knickers and granny wigs, galloping confidently through the minefields of motherhood, childhood pressures, divorce and friendship. Although it’s generally taboo to bring personal issues into the circus world, these three working mothers clearly lean on one another. Their feminist, matriarchal show is a delight, shining a spotlight into industry bullshit and joyfully imagining new, better worlds.

Show Pony, Summerhall, until 26 August, 10.35am; main picture: Matteo Blau.