Absurd variety show Circus Mayhem is part of a new wave of contemporary circus currently enjoying a creative renaissance and a growing popularity with audiences. Presented by Circus Evolution—the consortium of venues whose hits include Bromance, Flown and L’après-midi d’un Foehn—Circus Mayhem sees three contrasting artists come together.
First up is Rimski, the back-pedalling, side-winding pianist, who will regale audiences in the foyer (and other spaces) as an oddball entrée and interval intervention. Playing and singing as he rides, Rimski dazzles with original songs, musical clowning, acrobatics and the occasional firework.
Over on the main stage is Jon Hicks, puzzling audiences with his curious performances and artistic oddities. Hicks’s deadpan puppetry and speed painting have earned him the title of “International Man of Artistry”.
For the finale, sweet slapstick trio BettiCombo tell a tale of triumphs and defeats. They burst on to the stage to create an endless playground, building precarious pyramids, towers and columns from countless white buckets and a towering Chinese pole. Their complimentary skills deliver a mini-masterpiece of circus comedy and fun.
Joining Rimski as a special guest at all the tour venues except Folkestone and Huddersfield is Miranda La Mutanta and her Penny Farthing.
Circus Evolution is a five-year Arts Council England strategic touring initiative created to ensure that more high-quality work reaches a wider range of people across England. Circus Evolution is managed by Crying Out Loud, creative producers who have been bringing events to festivals and theatres in UK, USA and Europe for over a decade.
The tour opens at The Civic Barnsley on 22 October and continues to St George’s in Great Yarmouth, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich , Quarterhouse in Folkestone, Hat Factory in Luton, The Albany in Deptford, déda in Derby and Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.