Fringe review: RECLAIM, Théâtre d'un Jour - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Reclaim, presented by Belgian company Théâtre d'un Jour, is an incredible feat of circus and physical theatre. The show opens slowly and very atmospherically, with the first performer entering into a soft pool of light with a puppet of a small boy lying limp in her arms. She takes care to wrap him in a fur blanket.

Quickly, the other performers join the stage in wolf masks, chanting as they aggressively circle the audience. The physical abilities and skills of these circus performers are incredible and awe inspiring. The set is eerie and minimalistic - a tree stump lies on one side of the round stage with a tall crucifix like branch on the other.

The strength in this piece lies in the combination of the performer’s incredible physical skills with the strong atmosphere that they create, supported by beautiful live music as two bass players play on the periphery of the stage. One performer also has a powerful deep voice, which she impressively maintains whilst flung into the air by her partners on stage.

Audience members are also swept into the madness, effortlessly lifted into the air by the performers. One ‘wolf’ even grabs an audience member’s shoe, flinging it off the stage.

The show is haunting, magnetic and inspiring. A sensational hour of circus theatre.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Viv Williams

Reclaim plays in The Beauty at Underbelly’s Circus on the Meadows until 26 August.