Last Updated on December 18, 2024
Superb live entertainment for adults and children
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
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“Are you ready for…some maple syrup?” Revel Puck’s French-Canadian hostess “Nancy”, expertly played by the charismatic acrobatic clown, Arielle Lauzon, gives the crowd a cheeky wink. Her friends in colourful boiler suits are busy covering the front row with clouds of protective plastic. Much as I love maple syrup, I was alarmed we were about to be covered in it, all in the name of celebrating The Ruckus.
Such are the antics of the rhythmic acrobatic troupe The Revel Puck Circus, back in Walthamstow after a successful stint last year. The East London-founded circus company are hosting two shows here over the Christmas period. The pop-up Speigeltent, on Fellowship Square, in front of Walthamstow’s iconic town hall and assembly rooms, will bring the aerial spectacular to town until January 5.
Walthamstow has been waiting patiently, for what seems like aeons, for its endlessly delayed outpost of Soho Theatre to open. For a few weeks at least, the ladies of Revel Puck are in town to share some joy and dynamism with the borough.
The Ruckus, updated since 2023, is a vibrant cabaret-style show led by a cast of female performers is introduced by “Nancy” who is hosting a party for all of us that night in her Speigeltent. As Nancy decides what to wear, her talented zany friends will entertain us with aerial tricks, hoop spinning and human-sized balloons.
Whilst Nancy has enough feathered and sequinned costume changes to rival her fellow French-Canadian darling, Celine Dion, the rest of the circus company are dressed in neon pastel all-in-ones. As Nancy experiments with increasingly high platform heels, her four friends leap, swing and twirl – sometimes above the heads of the crowd.
An immediate highlight is Jackie Le , who performs aerial tricks, sliding up and down a long piece of silk fabric. Later she dangles from her own hair. Other segments from the rest of the troupe include dancing within and suspending from giant hoops and boisterous grasshopper jumping within gigantic, The Prisoner-esque, balloons.
The mostly French, euro-pop soundtrack is energetic. Spanning Charles Aznavour chanson, a Titanic Celine Dion homage – mais oui – and some rap from Stromae. Any show, that opens with a number from Dalida, France’s 70s disco-queen, has my attention before the first somersault. Mixed in are breathless jumps and dives to Chappell Roan and Lady Gaga. There’s a rest for the audience in the twenty-minute interval but for the second half, they’ve brought out a running machine. Nancy’s footwear gets crazier still and the pace doesn’t let up. This is a woman who demonstrates she can tie her laces whilst balancing one-legged on a moving treadmill. In a feather boa.
The Ruckus is a sexy playful show performed by women with strong bodies. Whilst burlesque by artists such as Dita von Teese or the West End’s immersive Cabaret show might not be somewhere to take your children, The Ruckus is good wholesome fun that doesn’t rely on titillation or innuendo (much) to thrill. With Walthamstow’s well-established persona as Pram-sterdam, there are plenty of young families here. The Ruckus would be a riotous laugh for any group of family or friends to watch. There’s never a dull moment in this show and I had to pinch myself it was happening in my home borough. You don’t need to go to the West End to find high-quality live entertainment and with tickets from £10.50, this is a bargain.
This year’s other show on the Revel Puck Circus programme is a reimagining of the classic fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling. Whilst intended to entertain smaller children, aged from three years upwards, The Ugly Duckling features the same style of circus entertainment seen in The Ruckus. There will be daytime and evening performances of both shows.
If you want to eat before or after your visit, two local East London street food trucks, Leytonstone’s Mexican Fried Chicken, and Walthamstow’s plant-based No-Hogs, are stationed outside the temporary venue. Meanwhile, inside the tent, there is a bar and popcorn machine. I had been worried I might get cold in a tent during December but inside it was quite cosy with a party atmosphere. The welcome from Revel Puck is warm and their exuberant show is one well worth seeing.
Revel Puck Circus
Fellowship Square
Walthamstow
London E17 4JF
