Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • 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.

Brighton Fringe
May 6, 2018
Email
Ben Miller
Ben Miller is a SOURCE feature writer and reporter.
← PREVIOUS POST
The Limiñanas review
NEXT POST →
Sarah Blasko review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Ger Ready for Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions Team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer, and free live music beside the sea side. What is not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

  • The Girl On The Train Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    A fantastic adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel which is a beautiful balance of acting, theatricality and gritty story telling.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 1 Review
    Jun 6, 2025

    No longer just a day for getting your wrist band; some serious heavy hitters were brought out for a cracking day one.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Brighton Fringe Review: Väkevä/Lyydia - Brighton Source