Review: LA CLIQUE, Leicester Square Spiegeltent

Photo credit: Jody Hartley

It's two decades since La Clique first mesmerised audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe back in 2004. To celebrate its 20th birthday, La Clique is back with an electrifying cabaret show in Leicester Square with its Edinburgh Fringe partner Underbelly, guaranteed to make this a sexy and daring Christmas.

For this run, La Clique have curated an evening with globally recognised artists. Bringing you acts from eye-opening aerial sequences, acrobatic moves that make you admire the human body, to some slimy comedy to keep you entertained throughout the evening. On occasion, some acts appear a bit restricted on the small rounded stage, but it is also a great opportunity for the audience to see these acts up close.

The show kicks off with Miranda Menzies’ playful and graceful aerial act — The Hair Suspension. Her astonishing strength and hyper-flexibility make you question if she’s truly human – or something otherworldly! Baylet Graham, an America's Got Talent semi-finalist, takes the centre with an energetic tap dance. However, given the limited visibility of the stage, much of his footwork is lost on the audience beyond the front row. This season's show liberally features artists from another Underbelly's successful circus show Sophie's Surprise 29th, including several of the same acts. For those who have seen a fair few circuses, there's occasionally a sense of deja vu, but for newcomers, the thrills are palpable. Cornelius Atkinson's Straps and Trapeze performances are a masterclass in control and strength, while Katharine Arnold's aerial hoop and silks act is elegant and graceful with a soupcon of playful character work. We'd love to see the development of Arnold's character carry through a bit more cohesively in her aerial sequences, but her talent still shines through.

Nathan Price and Isis Clegg-Vinell's roller skate act is as dazzling as ever, injected with a retro vibe for good measure, while Miranda Menzies’ contemporary striptease is creative and so aesthetic. The whole stage is dyed red by her playfulness and the massive balloon over her head. There are no other words to describe it but beautiful.

Florian Brooks, the gentleman juggler, really emphasises the slick and sexy tone of the evening. His effortless juggling makes throwing five bottles in the air look so elegant and easy, that even his pet goldfish would agree..? Danik Abishev’s ladder manipulation and hand balancing demonstrate his skills; besides, who doesn’t love a bit of fire?

One of the evening's highlights has to be Asher Treleaven's comic reading of an erotic novel. The charm and wit of his unconventional diabolo act has the audience in stitches, a lightness cutting through all of the tension that the audience has been holding in.

While La Clique tries to thread these acts together with a jazzy, glamorously slick tone, the transition between can sometimes be a little disjointed. Not all acts share the same tone, which would not have been a problem if the decision had been made clearer. Circus regulars may find a few acts reminiscent of previous spectacles. Certain acts feel short or may seem repetitive to experienced circus-goers, but it remains an eye-opening experience for newcomers, especially for Christmas entertainment. Overall, La Clique delivers a spectacularly entertaining experience, perfect for adding a thrilling twist to your holiday season.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Diana Feng

La Clique plays at Leicester Square Spiegeltent until 5 January 2025, with further info here.