The official program describes TENDER as “the queer circus caberet, that will leave you aching for more .”
My perspective of circus was first aroused by the TV movies The Greatest Show on Earth and Trapeze. These Hollywood movies and the Australian versions, the
Ashtons family Circus, was a world of exotic acts, smells, sounds and excitement to an eleven-year-old.
With TENDER, the Sydney Fringe Festival has presented circus with a twist, that is a queer circus, cabaret, performed in a geodesic big top, by six strapping athletic performers, interspersed with live song and dance support for the aerial performance.
The roar of the crowd, ever-changing costumes and grease paint, add to the spectacle. The audience is constantly being titivated by striptease and lascivious looks and touches, by the actors.
Paired male and female gymnasts perform self-propelled aerial acts on an elevated hoop and fabric suspension. There is also a large scale cube frame that is used to
symbolise the image/logo that is used in the Fringe festival program.
The power and precision of the performers is amazing. Each couple produces aerial routines as well as stage level acrobatics.
These are performed to a light and sound show. The audience of mainly young people, continually supported the performers with howls of joy and clapping.
We were thoroughly entertained by the sheer intensity and beauty of the performance, which did not seem to have any low points.
It was sheer joy and power.
TENDER is playing the Spiegeltent until the 29th September 2024.
