Southbank Centre
Growing up in east London, a trip to Zippo Circus looked and felt quite different to that which we experienced in Afrique en Cirque at Queen Elizabeth Hall. This show celebrates the beauty, vitality and artistry of African culture through circus acts but the payoff was much greater than any circus acts I’ve seen. The impression it leaves I imagine will be longer lasting.
The journey began in a sleepy marketplace, slowly building into a bustling hub as daylight grew. People toil away, jostle, and converse. The scene is set. Four performers enter with their drums, spotlit, and glowing, combining dance with chanting as they drum. They are exuberant, and we are welcomed into the space, “Come, come, celebrate with us!” they seem to say energetically before the sounds of the Kora fills the auditorium in that hauntingly beautiful way that it does.
Our storyteller enters and sings as he plays. The performer who it turns out, like all the cast, is multitalented, provides this melodic golden thread throughout the show. That I didn’t understand the language didn’t matter. We were told that the Kora is that vessel carrying stories through the generations, and I believed it.
Afro Jazz music is used to great effect overall in the show. Some nice solos, the saxophone, bass guitar, drums, accompany the varied movements and very well and never overshadowing the action. This was particularly vivid when later in the show the storyteller emerged solo to dance and twirl rhythmically inside, a giant hoop. The music tracked his pace as he geared up, and as he slowed, emphasising the fluidity of the movements and giving me the feeling of swaying and rotating in the hoop long with him. Percussion was dynamic throughout.
Variety was the spice of life in our 90-minute journey, and they packed a lot in in that time, really showcasing the agility, talent and wide-ranging skills of each of the performers. Your regular staples were present, juggling, somersaults but much more creatively and imaginatively staged. A variety of styles of dance, acrobatics, traditional African dances were choreographed beautifully and with pinpoint accuracy. The athleticism required to make this all look effortless is not to be scoffed at.
The stage was awash with colour, in the costumes, in the textiles, the lighting which all added to the atmosphere. Props were used imaginatively, drums doubled up as building blocks to create human towers for some of those hold-your-breath-in-anticipation moments. There was a mildly titillating sequence with some muscle flexing and flirtation for the adults in the room in a segment based on a building site which made me raise an eyebrow as I giggled. They got away with it as it was funny rather than provocative, so the age rating holds.
In one sequence, starting just before dawn, dancers swirling lights on poles through the air gave the impression of fireflies or stars twinkling in the night sky. The fishermen and women with their nets, jubilant at catching a big fish, then abandoning it as the movements of this creature (the contortions of the performer) scare them. The resulting act of this ‘big fish’ freeing himself from the net, with fluid twisting movements, spine twisting, arms and legs in places you couldn’t quite make out, emerging triumphant from his nets, was satisfying and unexpectedly touching.
There followed a particularly impressive if not a little long sequence of contortionism which had everyone on the edge of their seats, toes clenched, wondering what was going to happen next. A little uncomfortable to watch but it undeniably impressive range of movement, performed with charisma and humour, making me smile, and frequently exclaim “oh jesus” under my breath even as I tried not to look but kept being drawn back.
Each performer, whether dancing solo, as a collective or simply walking from one side of the stage to another was majestic in their poise and strength. I saw pride in the expression of artistry and culture, and this was really enjoyable to see unfold over the 90 minutes. When in high energy mode the performers were jubilant, engaging, and humorous and we laughed and applauded in response.
The show really came into its own leaning into that audience engagement – upping the tempo and bringing us closer and closer to the action, radiating warmth and energy. They cheered each other on too and this camaraderie throughout felt authentic, like they’ve known each other for years. I couldn’t hear the majority of the dialogue very well in the market scenes, but perhaps this was deliberate, only meaning to be background din.
Still, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment, the set design and the exuberance of the show overall more than equalled the sum of its parts. This was an entertaining, joyous celebration and sharing of culture in Guinea which made me want to learn more. I’m only sad that I couldn’t take my daughter so let’s hope it returns for a longer run soon.
Need to know: Afrique en Cirque runs until 28 July 2024 at Southbank Centre. See listing.
