A flaw with CGI, for all its fantastical imagery, is that one doesn’t truly feel the action any more – it isn’t real. When a performer within any art takes risks, we can breathe and feel with them: we, too, come alive. At this enervating time of year such vicarious life is especially thrilling, so I was happy to read The Stage’s statement that “if anything can lighten the winter blues it is the dazzling Traces”.
In this ‘contemporary circus’ production from Les 7 Doigts de la Main (7 Fingers of the Hand), five people face their end with only a short time in which to leave their mark, to leave some trace of their lives. Choosing to brave destruction through creation, they set out to express themselves for the final time. Raw power is focused through diverse skills, including skateboarding, Chinese poles, ‘hand-to-hand’ acrobatics – and piano-playing! – accompanied by further music and projections.
Geneviève Morin, the only female in the group, speaks of how the audience love connecting to the five performers, who do not play characters but reveal themselves, offering both intimacy and spectacle. The French-Canadian acrobat also mentioned that you see all of them “do everything”, sharing each skill. “We don’t stop moving around for one minute” she said, before announcing that they are “all excited to go to Scotland: the highlight of the British tour”. Looks like the Traces performers will bring thrilling entertainment, coupled with delightful appreciation of their venue – a performance straight from the guts to liven us all up!
Festival Theatre Edinburgh Monday 1 – Wednesday 3 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: £13.50 – £21.50
Box Office: 0131 529 6000
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