S (Norfolk & Norwich Festival)

The inspiration for this piece is the actual letter S and its associated curves, sounds and symmetries. Circa's performance is hugely stimulating and defies classification. It lifts acrobatics out of the sawdust of the circus big top and mixes them with the polish of professional theatre.

After the audience is placed in a complete blackout, we are intrigued by a floating candle rising above one acrobat and the performance starts.

This performance is a joy to the senses, helped by a blend of excellent music (by the Kronos Quartet), the elegant white diamond stage and the plain black costumes that encourage the audience to focus on the athleticism and forms of the performers.

There is a lot of energy in this performance and throughout you feel as though the performers are encircling the notes that make up the music. However, the tempo of this production is well timed so that it does not feel like a continual crescendo – from time to time there is the odd piece of physical comedy that releases tension appropriately.

In addition to the smooth acrobatics where the three female members of the seven-member troupe are used as human skipping ropes or a ball to be caught, there are other inventive bits.

One part of the act involves balancing bowls of water, which provides another moment of humour. Another highlight is when one of the female troupe members jiggles seven hoops simultaneously and finally we are astounded as one of the troupe climbs and balances by knotting themselves in drapes. These various performances show Circa's dexterity and versatility in performance.

Like the accompanying music by Kronos, there is a smoothness in all aspects of the performance, from the lighting to the movement on stage, but at times, there are moments of danger (and surprise) which lead to vocal gasps from the audience.

All of this energy given during the performance reverberates and leaves the audience at the end of the night uplifted and with the knowledge that image, form and movement can communicate as much if not more than words.