Barely Methodical Troupe returned to the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing this week with their ground-breaking new show, Kin, the opening production in Worthing Theatres Summer of Circus festival. This family-friendly circus season offers a total of 10 weeks of the world’s best contemporary circus acts, right through to August 27th, and it couldn’t have been lauched with any more style and skill.
The original Barely Methodical trio, Louis Gift, Beren D’Amico and Charlie Wheeller, are joined by an equally astounding group of 3 circus performers: Jonathan Bendtsen, Jean-Daniel Broussé and, the only female in the troupe, Nikki Rummer.
Together, they form part of a new wave of modern British circus, and they offer the packed to capacity launch night audience an exciting mix of physical stunts, contemporary dance styles and innovative theatrics all set around the theme of a “last man standing” talent competition.
From their static poses on plinths at the back of the stage, each man takes his turn to move centre stage to try and impress their “judge”. Using a microphone, carefully raised and lowered from the roof as needed, each man answers questions and then announces the act that he will perform, to prove that he is the best. A buzzer sounds loudly the moment that they fail to impress, and points are awarded depending upon their success…or failure.
The show focusses on the group dynamics and how they shift, evolve and provoke conflict, all explored through amazing circus skills, incredible feats of strength, hand-to-hand balancing, death defying acrobatics and stunningly beautiful routines performed on a Cyr wheel: a large, spinning, steel ring.
There can only be one winner, and in the end there is just one – the winner is the entire Barely Methodical Troupe with their dynamic, awe inspiring, one-of-a-kind, simply superb performance, Kin.
***** Five stars
