We’ve all heard of The Greatest Showman and been to a circus with the ringmaster taking the lead. But have you ever seen a showwoman doing the same? When was the last time that the women in variety performance were given a chance to tell their story, rather than just perform stunts or assist the magician? Maybe now’s the chance…
SHOWWOMEN focuses on the life and history of the showwomen, the untold story from immigrant and queer perspectives. The ‘herstory’ of British working-class entertainment is told through the perspectives of four performers, each ‘paired’ with a historical figure in the world of variety performance. Featuring in-depth discussion, archival images and photos, and the acts themselves, the performers in this show address the historical implications of female performers, and their importance in the circus entertainment industries.
I had no idea what to expect of this show and went in completely blind, even to what the production was about! And I was definitely surprised by what the show was. The range of stunts and the risk imposed by each of them was stunning to see live and in the close-quarters of the Drama Studio, and the information each performer shared was very thought-provoking, and left you thinking about a range of issues, including female representation, racism and colonialism, all through the lens of performance. The show was good to watch, but the stop-start nature of switching between the stunts and spoken-word delivery left the show trying hard to immerse but often falling short. Every element worked but struggled to work together cohesively at times. This performance being the first show, there were also several technical difficulties, which the performers adapted to very well, but further reduced immersion between and just before performances.
The show consisted of four performers. Led by Marisa Carnesky, her leading showwoman persona was fun and she played the audience well, although I would have liked to see more of her throughout the show as she was very entertaining. Hair hanger and comedienne Fancy Chance gave a spectacular performance, with the audience gasping multiple times as she flew around the Drama Studio only by her hair. Cringe-inducing and powerful, it was a standout act. Livia Kojo Alour, the sword and spoken word artist, had multiple elements in the show from glass-walking to climbing a ladder of swords, but this act didn’t engage me as much as the others. They were certainly entertaining, as was the performer herself, but unfortunately compared to the other acts, this was one of the less entertaining shows. Finally, Lucifire’s acts were simply thrilling, with her flaming whips and dangerous performance fantastic to watch live.
SHOWWOMEN is a powerful, exciting and thought-provoking entertainment show, but the quick shifting between death-defying acts and spoken presentation, although both good in their own regard and hugely important, often left immersion difficult to achieve
Rating: ★★★☆☆
SHOWWOMEN is touring the U.K. until May 1st
