I’ve always wanted to go to the Roundhouse to see something so when Circolombia came up it seemed like the perfect show to showcase the benefits of a venue like the Roundhouse. The story of Circolombia Urban is a very touching one and the show’s very essence is interwoven by this story. The performers are from Circo Para Todos (Circus For All) a circus school set up in Colombia for disadvantaged young people, young people who would otherwise be likely to be in a gang or other negative situation. The show is circus but told through the young performers eye – what they saw/see as poverty-stricken youth.

The circus tricks themselves were nothing too unusual or different but when taken together with the atmosphere it made for touching and high impact performance. The soundtrack was pretty awesome – dance, hip hop, reggae and there was live signing throughout as well. It could have done with some polish – but, as Craig pointed out, the rawness of the show gave it an element of danger which made it a little bit more exciting. Every trick we were on the edge of our seats thinking, will they fall, will they finish the trick?!

Some of the acts which I really enjoyed were the skipping ropes, the tightropes (felt a bit for the males in the performance as the male performers bounced up and down on their crotch (yikes), and an almost ballet-type piece. It was all so raw, so sexual almost!