Words: Natasha Chanse
Image: Shane Carey

3 stars

Stepping into the sold-out, grand auditorium at Music Hall Assembly Rooms, I remember thinking: this show will need to be equally as grand to match this space. The applause was steady, the gasps were few.

One Fell Swoop Circus group presents seven exceptionally skilled acrobat performers and thirty metres of rope. With sky-high talent, they weave their bodies into seemingly impossible geometric shapes. The movements are steady and beautiful, reminding the audience that the human body is an impressive machine. Movement drives the narrative, peaking with a poignant romance set to music by Oh Wonder. It’s a standout moment that leaves you wishing there was more storytelling in the show. On this note, however, I would remind you to always look at their expressions – much of the story lies there also.

The show would also benefit from more jaw-dropping, gasp-worthy moments. Enhancing the theatricality requires bolder risks: more dramatic drops, more swings into the crowd, more sudden lighting shifts. Whilst the performance is always impressive, it’s rarely toe-curling.

By A Thread
Music Hall at Assembly Rooms
15.55
9-30 Aug