Review: SOPHIE’S SURPRISE PARTY, Underbelly Boulevard
Photo credit: Roger Robinson
Get yourself ready for an alternative night out this winter in the interactive and immersive circus spectacular Sophie’s Surprise Party.
This show is packed with stellar trained performers bringing a range of impressive craft to the stage from acrobatics to aerial to skating. Head to a house party like no other where you get the chance to be part of the story.
After debuting under a different show title, Sophie’s Surprise 29th, back in 2022 at the Cavendish Square Spiegeltent, the show has been on quite the journey, after sell-out runs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe to making its way home to Soho again ready for the Christmas season, brought to you by Three-Legged Race Productions and Underbelly. Each night, a different audience member is invited to the stage to become the main guest: Sophie, and the audience joins the cast in crazy party antics, love affairs, cheeky chaos and plenty of memorable spectacles.
This circus spectacular fuses comedy, caricatures and impressive tricks, taking the audience on a journey every step of the way from the pre-show party in the auditorium to cleverly planned party games to transition the stage between different acts, adding playful twists to keep energy levels high. This is a unique theatre experience blending funny with fierce.
The intimate in-the-round staging makes the circus tricks all the more in-your-face thrilling, particularly Nathan Price and Emily McCarthy’s iconic roller-skating routine that guarantees to sweep you off your feet at 100mph and is the perfect way to whet your appetite pre-interval. Performing their routine on such a small stage in the centre of the crowd is a pure power move and has the audience holding their breath, covered in goosebumps, and absolutely enthralled by the talent onstage as the duo defy all expectations of what roller-skating can be.
The opening sequence is one of the most entertaining, featuring plenty of acrobatic stunts incorporating collaboration between the performers. All of their solo tricks are highly impressive, but there is something so striking watching them come together as one big circus ensemble and blending their talents in mega multi-person acrobatic stunts.
Each member of this circus troupe brings something memorable to the stage, wooing the audience with wild cheers at every twist and turn, whilst blending their craft loosely into the narrative of the show to create a cohesive experience for the audience. Whether you are looking for a fire-breathing burlesque dancer to emerge from a larger than life Sports Direct mug, or a goth to recite Twilight fan fiction post aerial straps routine, there really is an unexpected surprise in store for everyone.
Sophie’s Surprise Party promises to transport you to a 90’s party, through epic costumes and a sing-along-dance-along soundtrack. What makes the show unique from other circus extravaganzas is the dedication to the concept throughout, creating an entertaining storyline and lovable characters. It is circus and comedy like you have never seen before, and with a blend of audience participation throughout, you might just get the chance to be part of the spectacle!
The impressive circus mastery will make you laugh, whoop and party the night away.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Heidi Downing
