Showdown, The Albany Review
Photo: Andy Phillipson
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Showdown is billed as a “high-energy spectacle that combines jaw-dropping circus stunts with razor-sharp humour”. It’s written by Athena Kugblenu with music from UK hip-hop and grime artist Afrikan Boy. The premise is that we have reached the televised final of a worldwide search for the new “Face of Circus” and the winner will be chosen by us, the studio audience with some input from the “Circus Authorities”. We don’t see these authorities but they’re basically the circus equivalent of the Strictly or Britain’s Got Talent judges. It’s all hosted by a slightly cheesy presenter in a gold sequinned suit, drawing out the contestants’ sob stories and urging them to dial up the competitiveness to the max. It’s a promising format for an hour of entertainment that explores how far people will go in order to come out on top.
A lot of circus shows have a rather loose theme and put the focus on the series of routines that show off the skills of the performers, skills that are so impressive that you don’t leave feeling remotely short-changed that there isn’t a story to follow. The performers in Showdown have skills that are just as impressive as any I’ve seen before, but by showcasing them as part of a fictional TV talent show, Kugblenu has created a clever and original narrative that adds an extra layer to the performance. Afrikan Boy’s soundtrack draws us into the performances beautifully, it’s not overpowering but perfectly complements the artistry of the cast.
The script has nods to all the talent show cliches – the sob stories, the “over 30s” (remember the shock at 50 year old “Tesco Mary” reaching the X Factor live shows?!), the heartthrob, the over-confident over-achiever and all the empty platitudes when asked what it would mean to win. There’s plenty of humour in the script and while it doesn’t all land, it’s fun to see distinct personalities behind all the flips and tricks.
We only know the contestants by the colour of their costume which adds to the feeling that their humanity is irrelevant to the producers of this TV show, who only care about cashing in on the next big thing. They don’t all feel like fully-rounded characters – it’s not clear, for example, why Purple is the underdog with a sob story we don’t’ get to hear. One of the most engaging characters is Green, who in his charming French accent never misses a chance to remind the audience that he has a girlfriend. Whether he’s hiding his true sexuality or claiming to be something of a lothario isn’t clear but his delivery is endearing and funny so interpret it how you like! Another stand-out personality is Red – dismiss him as a musclebound himbo at your peril as one of his tricks makes it clear that he has plenty of brain to go with the brawn. He also loves his Mum which is always a winning trait on talent shows!
Our flamboyant host does well to make an impact when he’s the one character not performing stunning feats of athleticism. He has plenty of energy, moving amongst the audience encouraging us to cheer for our favourites and covering the short set-up time needed for the next routine with some riffing about the performances that feels spontaneous. He does perhaps use the term “Darlings” a little too much and at times his confidence slips a little. But, as the show progresses, so does his character and this is very effective. The grinning mask starts to slip as he pushes the performers to take on more and more dangerous challenges. He’d make a good Hunger Games game maker – there’s something a bit sinister behind the million dollar smile.
At the heart of Showdown are the phenomenal performances from its six “contestants”. From juggling to aerial acrobatics, the strength and artistry of the cast has the audience gasping and cheering. It’s all thoroughly entertaining but one of the stand-out sections for me was when the three male performers executed a range of incredible somersaults and leaps on a teeterboard (it looks like a playground seesaw but caterpaults the performers so high that they could easily reach out and touch the venue’s roof). And underdog Purple finally had a moment in the spotlight, performing a stunning routine on a giant hoop that was absolutely spectacular.
The one aspect of the show that didn’t quite work for me was the competition element. When circus performers are carrying out dangerous tricks and stunts they have to have absolute confidence in each other – nobody wants to leap from a great height if they’re not sure the person waiting to catch them will actually do it. So, the idea that the competitive nature could lead to acts of sabotage or injury didn’t ring true for this particular group. This was addressed as a part of the story and the sense of jeopardy did build as the competition progressed, but it was always clear really that the rivalry wouldn’t go beyond a little push, a little upstaging or distracting a juggler so they dropped their balls or clubs.
Showdown is a thoroughly entertaining hour, the skills of the performers are worth the ticket price alone but the talent show format is clever, original and definitely adds to the fun of the evening. It’s a great night out for all ages to enjoy.
Showdown is a co-production between Upswing and Chamäleon Theatre Berlin. It will be touring venues across England (Stoke-on-Trent, Norwich, London, Salford, Malvern, Worthing, Gloucester and Gillingham) from May to July 2025. You can find out more and book here.
★★★★