Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Cirque Berserk! at Pleasance at EICC

Entering the theatre where Cirque Berserk! is performed is like entering an old-fashioned carnival with a modern flair. Large, lit-up letters spelling out the word “CIRCUS” draw the eyes; red and blue lights cast everything in a jewel-toned glow. Mischievous, almost fantastical music plays as the first act takes the stage – a troupe of acrobats dressed in old-world outfits reminiscent of early-20^th century menswear. Combining traditional fanfare aesthetic with both customary circus performances and contemporary innovations, Cirque Berserk! has something for everyone.

Each cast member’s amazing tricks and stunts show a mastery of their skill. Their movements are smooth and deft, combining physical prowess with theatrical performance. Particularly impressive acts include a man shooting a bow and arrow with his feet, a contortionist rotating on his head while the sound of a spinning top plays in the background, and a performer who balances upside down on a pole using only his mouth. Some of the acts are awe-inspiring not only for the level of skill the actors display, but also for the sheer beauty of their execution: silk dancers tumble down their silks and back up again with speed and agility; standing on a solid platform, a man moves his feet as if gliding along ice; a woman whose entire body is folded inside a glass bottle gracefully extricates herself. The ease with which the artists appear to carry out these tasks only increases the level of admiration they inspire.

In addition to these beautiful and impressive moments, Cirque Berserk! also features an array of numbers appealing to the daredevils and adrenaline junkies amongst the audience. Gasps arise as a man juggles a flaming baton on his feet. In another skit, a man dressed in a ringmaster’s costume throws fiery knives at a spinning wheel where a woman is tied up, unflinching. The pièce de resistance – and perhaps most modern act of all – is the Globe of Death. Described as “the world’s most hair-raising circus act”, the Globe of Death is a metal sphere, where up to five motorbikes race around one another, driving along every surface, including the ceiling, while deftly avoiding the other cyclists. At one point, a daring woman enters the globe, creating another obstacle for the motorbikes to avoid.

The performances are accompanied by much pomp and circumstance in the form of flashing and changing lights of multiple colours, suspenseful music and periodic bursts of smoke. These elements lend drama and excitement to the already thrilling stunts. Interspersed between the beautiful and terrifying acts are more comedic ones, such as when renowned circus performer Paulo Dos Santos bounces off-stage inside a balloon. 

Cirque Berserk! therefore manages the perfect balance, delivering on both the beauty of contemporary cirque performances and the classic circus strangeness implied by the inclusion of the word “berserk” in its title. It is a feast for the senses, an overload of colours and sounds and skills that will leave audiences wanting more. 

Madison Sotos

Cirque Berserk is at Pleasance from 26^th August until 28^th August 2022. For further information or to book visit here.

For further information about Edinburgh Fringe 2022 visit the festival website here.

Watch a trailer for the production here: