Fuerzabruta at the Roundhouse

Given the recent overuse of the word flooding this winter, the bandied around description of Fuerzabruta as flooding one’s senses almost seems too much to swallow. London is probably just about done with flooding for 2014, and we are less than a month in.

However Fuerzabruta endeavours to bring to the audience the good kind of flooding: an overloading of Argentinian carnival-inspired music with masses of colour and stunt-like performances from the gutsy young entertainers.

Suspended from the cylindrical interior of Camden’s Roundhouse, the performers race each other around the walls above the standing audience’s heads, or they swim in shallow water in transparent containers suspended from the ceiling as they create contortions and shapes in an aqua light display. The creations are really quite amazing and routines similar to this are few and far between. Fuerzabruta’s one downfall is in its sincere lack of storyline.

Apart from a couple of interludes of the show’s most infamous performer – a fixed running man whose stunts really do excel the show’s content atop his mobile conveyor belt – each theatrical sequence is more random than the previous. Even with the running man the audience is never quite sure what he is running from, only that he is shot a couple of times and seems to have the worst luck with weather – a bit like the British!

The South American-inspired music morphs into a full-blown rave: a largely unexpected aspect of the performance given the maturity of some members of the audience. With its all-standing spectators and inclusive participation the running time of 70 minutes was thankfully adhered to. 

On the whole Fuerzabruta is an experience worth watching for its originality and ability to make its audience jiggle. The music and dancing is exceptional and the performers’ dedication and enthusiasm is unwavering. For the vibrant distraction that Camden is renowned for, Fuerzabruta offers something a little different for those looking for a little injection of vivaciousness.

Jennifer Atkinson
Photos: David Levene

Fuerzabruta is at the Roundhouse Theatre until 2^nd March 2014. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Fuerzabruta here: