The Palestinian Circus: Step And A Half circus review – Power and resistance
There is an undeniable energy of might, trust and community at The Palestinian Circus, in a crucial and synchronised celebration of solidarity, identity and freedom
At the end of this impressive show from West Bank-based Palestinian Circus, the cheering crowd rises to its feet, chanting ‘Free Palestine’. The atmosphere is turbo-charged with warm goodwill towards this non-profit company, who have been teaching circus skills to children and adults in occupied Palestine since 2006. The ensemble of eight performers are dressed in denim with keffiyeh and tatreez embroidery patches. There is much graceful shape-making; up and down aerial silks and a Chinese pole, through the air in weightless backflips and handsprings, round in circles on the human sized Cyr wheel.
Many of these acrobatic skills have been performed at the Fringe before, in this same giant tent, but there is a gentle elegance to the staging, with circus artistry woven around traditional music and dance. The title nods to the joyous Levantine folk line dance dabke and the skipping, stomping dance step wahda w nos (‘one and a half’ in Arabic). The show beams collective strength and solidarity, from the trusting teamwork of the counterweight on the scaffolding, silently lowering and raising the flying trapeze artist, right through to the voiceover messages of resistance: ‘We will continue to exist.’ A dignified display of soft power.
The Palestinian Circus: Step And A Half, Underbelly Circus Hub, until 29 August, 2.05pm