Energetic, exciting and entertaining. The performers certainly do thrill in iD Reloaded by contemporary circus company Cirque Éloize, writes Georgina Butler.
Nine talented cast members break away from a humdrum, eyes-down existence to hype each other – and mesmerised theatregoers – up in this vibrant celebration of individuality. The show uses simple storytelling and serviceable sets to display phenomenal physical feats from the disciplines of circus arts, breakdance, hip hop, b-boying/b-girling and acrobatics.
Urban dance combines with daring stunts as two gravity-defying gangs navigate romance, rivalry and rebellion in a bustling city. Thanks to immersive digital projections, constantly shifting lighting, a lively soundtrack and trick after trick to marvel at, it feels as if the audience is invited to join the colourful and cartoonish world of a video game.
It’s 75 minutes of fun and fascination that sees performers balance, bend, bounce, spin, skate, skip, juggle, jump…
A sprawling metropolis swallows us up as soon as this show [hand]springs into life. A towering, scaffold-like set conjures a landscape of high-rise skylines.
A cacophonous symphony – the hum of traffic, distant sirens, industrial noises, the erratic auditory textures of crowds and conversations – generates an acoustic atmosphere that proceeds to evolve into a satisfyingly musical (but still sometimes seat-shakingly loud) soundscape. Commuters dressed in non-descript attire briskly walk incognito. Then two of them meet each other’s gaze: star-crossed lovers mode activated.
Having set the scene, the entire crew bounds back to the stage in bold, laid-back, streetwear-style outfits. (During the post-show Q&A session on Friday evening at Milton Keynes Theatre, dancer/b-girl Lakesshia “Kiki” Pierre described the look as “hip–circus fashion”.) Clambering over concrete cubes and clamouring to be heard while exaggeratedly chitter-chattering together, the city dwellers shed their anonymity and are swept up in the playful whirlwind of a West Side Story inspired rumble.
The barely-there narrative essentially functions to provide a reason for the performers to express themselves through their unique skills. Alexia Medesan fluidly contorts into striking shapes and lyrically mirrors the dynamic movements of dancer/b-boy Bryan “Slinky” Boyer and dancer/b-girl Lakesshia “Kiki” Pierre.
Adam Dransfield steadily scales stacked wooden chairs for an awesome balancing act. Trevor Bodogh mounts his beloved trial bike to hop over anything and everything. JP Deltell jauntily keeps seven balls in the air as he juggles the chaos of a construction site. Kayden Woodridge levitates in lingering holds on the Chinese pole. Christophe Bate spins and rolls while haloed in a Cyr wheel. Florence Amar swirls and soars suspended from aerial straps.
With iD Reloaded, Jeannot Painchaud, Cirque Éloize’s founder, has curated and directed a modern circus show that really does provide something for all tastes. Each performer has their own incredible individual number, but an ensemble feel is maintained by everyone contributing to the groups that surround the soloists.
The whole cast is also involved in animated dance breaks, some spectacular skipping featuring multiple twirling ropes and a thrilling trampolining scene.
It's a bit of circus on a few occasions when the house lights abruptly come up and performers race through the auditorium, or orchestrate audience-wide selfies, as the visual comedy is lost to anyone not sitting in the stalls. Still, these sudden bright and bubbly interludes do build anticipation, showcase the personalities of the performers and keep theatregoers of all ages engaged in between set changes.
To spectators, the onstage action looks truly no holds barred (or perhaps, ‘look, no hands!’) in nature. The performers throw themselves wholeheartedly into everything they do. So, at times, our hearts are in our mouths – especially when a volunteer from the audience is incorporated into the wheely risky bike tricks.
Each member of the company is a master of their craft, but the sense of risk is omnipresent in their exploits. Collectively, their performances feel authentic and are delivered with raw vitality.
At its heart, iD Reloaded serves as an exhilarating exploration of what happens when performers let loose and have a blast being their wackiest, wildest selves. Maybe it also sets a challenge to theatregoers: break away from the crowd and risk being yourself.
Cirque Éloize’s iD Reloaded is touring nationwide thanks to support from Dance Consortium, which invites must-see international contemporary dance companies to visit venues across the UK. The regional theatres that are part of the consortium unite for the benefit of dance-loving and dance-learning audiences. Previous Dance Consortium tours include enthralling Canadian collective The 7 Fingers and celebrated South African dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo, who died unexpectedly in December 2024 after a brief illness.
Production photography by Caroline Thibault.
Cirque Éloize performed iD Reloaded at Milton Keynes Theatre on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October at 7.30pm. The UK tour continues until 18 October.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher.
