Review: Gorilla Circus - RPM (Ventnor Exchange Arena, Ventnor Fringe)

Could you imagine doing some complicated street dance routines and acrobatics and then thinking, let’s use a giant moving treadmill as our stage.  Me neither.  However, the creators of Gorilla Circus have taken this very concept and rolled with it (pun intended, see below). RPM is a fast paced, physical show I saw at Ventnor Fringe in their largest venue, Ventnor Exchange Arena, and ever since I have been wondering quite how to describe what I saw.

I must admit when the show started, I did think what on earth am I watching.  A table and chair were on the stage, both noticeably had wheels, and then the treadmill started moving and the show began; the performers working around this at the same time as keeping the table in place on this enormous structure that is surely out to cause incident or injury.  Something about that table moving around up there made me feel quite anxious, until the point that my brain processed the fact that this is a choreographed show and the people on stage had everything extremely under control. In fact they made everything they did look effortless.

Recorded voice pieces describing periods in history set the scene and a clock spinning in the centre of the performance area showed the continuous passage of time. The narrative added depth to the show for people who want more than a physical dance/movement spectacle to entertain them.  The historical references were poignant and thought-provoking and are concerned with the UK’s colonial past and how that troubled history links with problems in the present day.

The cast was made up of Emma Houston, Hakim Saber, Jordan Morton-Trowers, Lauren Scott and Alba Gutierrez. They all performed together wonderfully as well as individually at times.  The timings of synchronised breakdancing (while on the moving treadmill), the acrobatics, the storytelling through movement and dance and the final addition of roller-skating to all of this was quite magical to watch. This all took place with some well-constructed musical accompaniment. The treadmill moves in both directions (and at times is stationary), and also has different speeds, at one point involving some incredibly fast sprinting for quite some time. There is also definite need of a mention for the crew who control the music and the movement of the treadmill, which is an essential role in this show.

I can imagine children being wowed by the physical aspects of this show, but for teens upwards, the combination with the storytelling is key, and the historical message about our past and how it relates to present day issues stay with you long after the treadmill finally stops moving.

A unique and unforgettable show.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

You can watch the trailer for RPM on YouTube here.

The Gorilla Circus website gives a lot of information about this show and others that they have available for tour or currently in development.

I was gifted tickets for RPM in exchange for an honest review.

Photos are all mine. If you would like to see more of the many photos I took during this show and at curtain call, please have a look at my Instagram account.