Birmingham’s only festival of Aerial and Physical Theatre TILT has returned for its sixth year at West Midlands Creation Centre and TeaWorks. This hybrid festival is also accessible online with most classes and all performances being streamed live making this year’s festival more globally accessible than ever before.

The venue is a warehouse with collapsible seats in an arc framing the main space. Effectively a black box, the warehouse is clearly a functioning practise space haphazardly transformed using lighting and drapes. This only elevates the rough and ready atmosphere. This wasn’t going to be a sleek and shiny circus show. This was going to be bare bones, no sleight of hand or flashy distractions. 

Tilted Circus Night, hosted by RoguePlay Theatre, was a master class in raw, unadulterated, athletic art. The evening comprised of 6 incredible performances made accessible to all with the help of Paul, TILT’s incredibly engaging and endearing residential BSL translator. Jordi Campell was live streamed into the space from the USA. Her ‘floor threading’ contortionism left you wondering if all of her bones were made of rubber. Rebecca Rennison is sharp and witty on aerial hoop. Vanulle Dance Theatre’s Laura Vanhulle and Oliver Robert Rushell’s contemporary dance is oddly soothing to behold and Velma Von Bon Bon’s pole dancing burlesque would be right at home in any contemporary cabaret show, with risky and cheeky Velma taking you places you didn’t know you wanted to go…

Kim Wildborne presented a small extract of her one woman aerial silks show Mother Tree, which will be shown in completion on Saturday 17 July 2021 online and in person at West Midlands Creation Centre. Wildborne’s acting throughout the piece, whilst completing spell binding tricks in the air, is a masterclass in physical theatre. 

The stand-out performer is LJ Marles on aerial straps. Accompanied by The Rolling Stones and a seemly inconsequential black rose, the strength and dexterity on the straps is a sight to behold. Marles effortlessly dances in mid air, spinning, turning and tumbling into a web of emotion and taking you right along with them. ‘Paint It Black’ is quite simply, memorising. 

TILT Festival runs from until 23 July 2021 in Birmingham and online. The programme of classes caters for people of all ages and abilities from Parent and Child Risky Play, young people, aspiring Aerial and Circus Performers and those who just want to give it a go. 

TILT also offers a fantastic show line up featuring artists from around the globe and some of Birmingham finest home grown talent ( all shows are BSL Translated). Anyone who likes live entertainment will LOVE what this festival has to offer. To find out more, book tickets or sign up for a class, all information can be found here.

**** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Alanna Boden