Campfire circus review: Circus thrills and big ideas
This family-friendly circus adventure mixes trapeze, slapstick comedy and eerie bushland atmosphere
Campfire is that rarest of circus beasts: a show that is completely family friendly yet contains enough big ideas and comedy to keep even the most cynical grown-up entertained. Deep in the bush, a spirit awakens and begins to stalk a couple of campers (after a pretty solid trapeze routine with enough danger to keep you on the edge of your seat). As our campers get more and more lost, the spirit steals their stuff and gets in their heads. But, by morning, everyone’s friends and we’re all one big, happy pack.
Alternating between slapstick moments, plenty of jeopardy and some quieter scenes that beautifully show the power of male friendship, the trio make the most of every inch of Ukiyo’s smaller space. The soundscape is perfect, building atmosphere and tension; sometimes eerie, often unsettling, with more than a few jump scares. But, even as you enjoy a thumb wars sketch or laugh at a classic running-on-the-spot chase scene, Campfire asks bigger questions. Who gets to go where? Is masculinity helpful or a hindrance? And, crucially, does anyone actually know how to put up the tent?
Campfire concludes at Ukiyo at Gluttony until March 10.