@ Gardyne Theatre, Dundee until Sat 31 Jan 2015 (and touring)
Cirque Berserk is a white-knuckle thrill ride that includes some mightily impressive feats throughout its fast moving circus performance. A troupe of over thirty entertainers take to the stage in a jam-packed evening that includes jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians.
Some of the acts in this impressive show will have even the most avid of circus goers sitting on the edge of their seat, although the Gardyne Theatre at Dundee College is perhaps not the right size of venue. Whilst each act moves on quickly, the hint of danger is never too far away, including a knife thrower whisking axes at his helper as she spins around on a wooden wheel. It seems unfair to pinpoint individual acts, but special mention has to go to the human catapult that has topless men flying across the stage at an alarming rate. The show’s big pay-off comes with the aptly named Globe of Death, a steel cage that includes motorcyclists zooming around at 60mph.
The show feels like a ‘Best Of’ of a Britain’s Got Talent showcase and seeing these amazing stunts first-hand is an exhilarating experience. There’s also some fun and laughter throughout, thanks to the elasticised comedy of Clown Tweedy. Whilst an attempt at a through story of a hunt for a dragon seems a little underdeveloped, it’s completely forgivable as it’s not what the audience are there to see. Cirque Beserk is a fantastic show that will please all ages and will likely have the majority of people thanking the heavens they’ve chosen jobs a little less dangerous.