Type and hit ENTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
A photo of Agit Cirk's Jenni Lehtinen climbing across a tent at Brighton Fringe Festival's St Mark's Chapel spire in 2018
Reviews

Brighton Fringe Review: Väkevä/Lyydia

May 6, 2018
-
Posted by Ben Miller

With a run of four days at Kemptown’s 19th century Spire, Finnish circus arts group Agit-Cirk are providing a certain highlight of this year’s fringe before the first week of the festival is out. Circular pods of light arc at the feet of the audience in an opening movement by Jenni Lehtinen, a spectacularly supple human spider who hangs and arches around the timber frame of the company’s elegant dome.

When she’s not almost disappearing into the roof of the tent, Lehtinen performs a sublimely choreographed balancing act on small pieces of wood and sets chains clanking synchronously in the air, all to a cinematic soundtrack lit by rays of pink and white. As the crowd roots for this exquisite talent and the tent covers come off for a spring-like finale, the subtle marks on her legs and calves are the only giveaways of the years of work this extraordinary acrobat must invest in her art.

Outside the dome, Sasu Peistola – a co-founder of the company – initially plays the suited master of ceremonies. He heads inside and takes over, though, for the second act, a brief and witty introduction to being a strongman with a sickening section in the middle. Helped by two audience members, Peistola takes a massive stone kettlebell to the stomach in a recreation of the kind of move, he explains, that ultimately did for Harry Houdini. Before that, this robust and charismatic storyteller lifts Lehtinen off a mattress with his teeth and escapes a straitjacket with a spot of mid-air writhing and blustering.

He finishes by grabbing the kettlebell – simultaneously a friend and foe to his work, he admits – to enact an emotive, muscular dance in the hushed space. This is inspiring, stirring and brave physical theatre at its best. For the small circle of viewers, the performances feel personal and powerful.

The Spire, St Mark’s Chapel, Brighton, until May 7 2018. Performances at 2pm and 5.30pm.

May 6, 2018
Ben Miller
Writer Person

Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • loop robert hampson
    Interview: Robert Hampson of Loop
    February 15, 2019

    Ahead of Loop’s upcoming gig at The Haunt, their frontman chats to us about psychedelics, merch rip-offs and playing in Brighton.

  • Lazybones | Brighton Source
    Locally Sourced, Feb 2019
    February 15, 2019

    Our round-up of new Brighton music - including albums by Rokurokubi and Oli Spleen, an EP from Lazybones and singles by Dom Champ, Hatter and Night House.

  • Mutations Festival
    Mutations Festival, Sat 23rd Feb
    February 15, 2019

    An eclectic all-day exploration of musical innovation featuring White Denim and Goat Girl, and only a stone's throw from town.

  • Lewes Psychedelic Festival Review
    February 13, 2019

    A wonderfully curated evening of past and future psychedelia, headlined by AK/DK, unfurled beneath a swirling multicoloured church roof.

  • Street Source No.30
    February 12, 2019

    Photographer Mike Tudor looks at what it's like to return to Brighton after 18 months away. You can't go home again.

  • Ollie Quinn artist takeover, art by Oriele Steiner
    Artists Take Over Bond Street Shop
    February 7, 2019

    Ollie Quinn eyewear boutique has opened its doors for emerging artists to hold exhibitions, starting this month with paintings by Oriele Steiner.

  • Nubya Garcia, Tues 5th Mar
    February 5, 2019

    After playing at Brighton Festival with Carleen Anderson last year, this rising sax star of the UK jazz scene is back in town with her own band.

  • SOURCE Virgins: Getting a Tattoo
    February 3, 2019

    People do stuff they've never done before and write about it. Victoria finally took the plunge and got her first tattoo. And it didn't even hurt... that much.

  • Our February round-up of new Brighton music - including albums by @rokurokubi_ and @olispleen , an EP from @wearelazybones and singles by @domchamp , @hatterbtn and @nighthouseuk Follow the link in our bio.

#rokurokubi #lazybones #domchamp #hatter #nighthouse #brighton #brightonmusic #newmusic #psychedelic
#rock #hiphop #ukhiphop #singer #songwriter #music
  • Who knew God was so psychadelic? Link in bio for our review of @lewespsychfest with @akdkmusic Rokurokubi, @speakgalactic @swedishdeathcandy and The Sound Carriers. Thank you @meltingvinylbrighton 
Photos by Matt Knight

#lewespsychfest #psychedelic #psychedelicmusic #festival #lewes #livemusic #gig #gigphotography #akdk #brightonsource
  • What do you miss when you move away from Brighton? What comforts do you crave when stressed from work? Photographer Mike Tudor @m_tphotography shares his experience in our new edition of Street Source.

Follow the link in our bio.

#streetsource #brighton #january #streetphotography #thisisbrighton #bike #citylife #stress #comfort #work #people #city #project #food #brightonsource #spicollective
  • Read our full review of Low at St George's Church last week. Photos by @studio_85uk 
#low #lowtheband #church #indierock #guitar #brighton #brightongigs #gig #concertphotography #concert
  • When bands like @lowtheband play special venues, it makes walking in the snow worthwhile. Full review and photos up soon. 📸 by @studio_85uk 
#low #brighton #doublenegative #gigphotography #gig #concert #lowtheband #church #rockmusic #concertphotography #livemusic
  • If you walked or drove home from the White Lies or Low shows in Brighton last night, then your winter survival skills were truly tested.
📸 By @studio_85uk

#low #whitlies #snow #snowing #brighton #winter #gigs #monochrome #walk #thisisbrighton #ice #cold

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2018
Brighton Fringe Review: Väkevä/Lyydia - Brighton Source