Wolf by Circa

Circa are bringing Wolf to the Civic Theatre on Friday 2 October, their first time performing this particular show in Newcastle. It's a gravity-defying acrobatic circus production, and the numbers on stage are a good part of the draw: ten artists performing together in designer costumes, moving to primal rhythms. If you've seen Circa before, you'll know the style — it's less about the traditional circus ring and more about the physical limits of the human body, with the ensemble working in unison rather than taking turns in the spotlight.

Wolf isn't new to the stage. It's already played the Edinburgh Fringe and broken box office records across Europe, so by the time it reaches us, it's a well-worn piece of work. The title gives a fair hint of the energy it's after — something animal, instinctive, and a bit raw. The focus is on the acrobatic side of things, with the ten performers carrying the weight of the show through their movement rather than a script or a plot. It's the kind of thing that's easier to describe as a 'thrill ride' than to explain in detail, and that's probably because the whole point is to watch it happen in front of you.

This is also part of something bigger for the city. Wolf is set to make its Newcastle debut as part of the city's new annual program, so it's one of the first international acts to come through under that banner. It's a bit of a shift in how we're getting this kind of work here, and this is one of the first names on the list.

It's a single night at the Civic Theatre on Friday 2 October. If you're into circus, contemporary dance, or just watching people do things with their bodies that seem to ignore gravity, this is the one to keep on your radar.