Cirque de Glace – Evolution

Mayflower Theatre

CIRQUE du Soleil meets nature documentary – on ice.

If that sounds a little bizarre, it was. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The lights dimmed and silence fell over the chilly auditorium as beams of light pierced the audience. A booming wannabe David Attenborough narrated the story of the creation of earth while a volcano burst into life on stage.

It was a bold opening to a show, which went on to deliver an impressive précis of the history of evolution in under two hours on a stage covered in ice and 16 talented gymnasts.

The formation of land and sea were told through incredible ice dance by a superb troupe of international performers from the Russian Ice Stars. Apes danced to the sound of drums ahead of the tribal arrival of mankind, fire and the wheel.

The ice routines were punctuated by some incredible aerial acrobatic displays, trapeze, beam and a contortionist atop a globe, some of the highlights of the show. Most impressively, most of the acrobatics, including a double spinning aerial trapeze, was completed in ice skates.

Fast forward a couple of million years for the second act, where we have reached the space age and our skaters glide around the stage in NASA space suits perfectly depicting the moon walk.

Clever and thought-provoking scenes of the rat race, deforestation and global warming follow.

There was the odd slip up of course. That is the nature of a show which dices with danger in a series of stunning feats of gymnastics.

It all comes together for a celebratory finale, featuring some of the best bits from the show.

Breath-taking stunts, jaw-dropping acrobatics and a thrilling tale.

It’s a spectacle well worth seeing. Just bring your coat.

LORELEI REDDIN

Cirque de Glace – Evolution runs until Sunday.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk