Acrobat battle comes to Gloucestershire in satirical circus spectacle

Yahoo

07-06-2025

A HIGH-energy satirical circus show is coming to Gloucestershire.
Showdown, produced by Upswing, will be performed at Gloucester Guildhall from Thursday, June 27 to Saturday, June 29, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
The show follows on from Upswing's mockumentary Common Ground, available on YouTube, which went behind the scenes of the fictional search for a Global Majority star to rebrand circus for the 21st Century.
It sees six acrobats race to become 'the new face of the circus' whilst asking questions about media, identity, tokenism and the obsession with winning.
Throughout the show, the audience is invited to vote for the winner, with each round delving further into the contestants' ambition and seeing just how much they will sacrifice to come out on top.
Upswing artistic director Vicki Dela Amedume said: "We're excited to finally bring Showdown to the UK.
"This production has been a labour of love for the company and, to us, it represents more than just a performance—it's a testament to the unique possibilities that arise when circus and theatre collide.
"It promises to be a fresh, dynamic experience: a great night out filled with incredible circus, but one that will also provoke as much thought as it does gasps.
"Through conversations with Athena Kugblenu and other global majority creatives, I have become really interested in how the conversation around diversity has shifted in recent years.
"I'm interested in the games we play and what we are willing to sacrifice to get the rewards we hope for and in the dynamics of power.
"Ultimately, we want the audience to leave our show feeling elated, hopeful and ready to change the world."
Jaide Annalise, Rebecca Solomon, Shane Hampden, Loris Di Via, Kussyl Amara, Gracie Hill and Rhys Hollis will make up the cast of performers for the show.
The show, suitable for ages 12 and over, will begin at 7.30pm each day.
Tickets for the show can be bought from the Gloucester Guildhall website.