REVIEW: WREKD | YUCK Circus | The Rechabite

Rollicking somewhere at the ends of the earth, pulled from the wreckage of an 80s fever-dream where Blade Runner and Mad Max collide, YUCK Circus gets post-apocalyptic with their new show WREKD at The Rechabite. Or should we make that The WREK-abite for now?

The good folks at YUCK and The Rechabite are offering an immersive circus experience, which means that you may find a leather-clad acro artist dangling perilously (but gracefully) from an aerial silk above you, or a faux-hawked performer swinging manically from the balcony railing in front of you. If being accidentally caught in the spotlight or unwittingly caught up in the action sounds like fun, there is ample opportunity to get involved in WREKD; you could even be chosen to go head-to-head with another audience member in a hula hoop battle. But never fear, for those who prefer a more passive entertainment experience, there are still plenty of dark corners in the hall to admire the shenanigans from a safe distance.

WREKD has all the essential stuff a circus show should have – trapeze, aerials, hula hoops, acro – all executed with great strength and skill, filled with those death-defying moments that make audiences squirm and gasp in awe. But what really makes WREKD rock are its unexpected feats (roller dancing, Lego walking, rope skipping), flights of fancy, and a sizeable funny bone. Take for instance the strange sand creature who has been roaming the hall periodically throughout the evening; eventually it gets its knobbly hands on a mic and recites a gross-out poem about eating worms. This is then followed by a black lit dance number where the group riffs on the worm theme. It’s an absurd and delightful combo of clowning, theatre, and dance that highlights the creativity and sense of humour of the YUCK troupe.

The show is performed in bite-sized chunks, with two 15-minute breaks wedged in between a pair of acts; this allows for the audience to take delivery of the grazing plate (if they’ve chosen the VIP option), grab another drink from the bar, or have a chat. YUCK makes sure to deliver some circus snacks of their own during the breaks, like a performer tiptoeing across a line of champagne bottle necks. The show’s soundtrack of 70s classics (Bowie, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC), 80s rockers (Guns n’ Roses, Billy Idol), right through to late 90s riot grrrl (Le Tigre), kept audience’s fists pumping and performers’ tongues thrusting throughout the night.

This is the last week to catch YUCK circus: WREKD at The WREK-abite, but if you miss out on tickets to the show, keep an eye out for YUCK Circus events at FRINGE WORLD in January 2022 for more front-and-centre female circus fun.

Find YUCK Circus: WREKD at The Rechabite info and tickets here.
Find YUCK Circus FRINGE WORLD events here and here.

CICELY BINFORD