Performers from circus act Limbo. Photo / Jamie Williams
A rambunctious circus cabaret has kick-started the festival with a wildly exuberant show that brought plenty of sizzle to a sultry Auckland night.
The multi-talented, nine-person troupe displays all of the breathtaking skill, precision and physical prowess of a traditional circus. But what sets Limbo apart is the frantic energy
that imbues the show with an infectious enthusiasm and an engaging sense of fun.
A key element is the live music, with the performers doubling as musicians in a band that captures the spiky, DIY spirit of the punk era.
Band leader Sxip Shirey brings a manic intensity to the energy levels and displays a very accomplished standard of musicianship as the band bring on an ever-changing parade of instruments that incorporates a plus-sized sousaphone, banjos, tin whistles and a megaphone mixed with a suitably bizarre array of homemade instruments.
The music shifts abruptly from wild cacophony to tenderly lyrical passages that reinforce the alluring sensuality of the show's finely choreographed dance routines. An eclectic mix of dance styles moves from sexy duets through to impressively athletic break-dancing, tumbling handsprings and a high-spirited exhibition of tap-dancing from Hilton Denis.
