Review: Why Urban Circus Is the Must-See Performance in Johannesburg

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Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Urban Circus at The Teatro, and let me just say, it was mind-blowing! If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to mix the chaos of city life with the jaw-dropping stunts of a circus, this is the show that answers that question in the most thrilling way.

From the very first moment, Urban Circus pulls you into the heart of city living—only this time, you’re seeing it through the eyes of world-class acrobats and performers. Imagine your daily commute turning into an aerial ballet, or a random day in the office morphing into a high-stakes trapeze battle. It’s wild! The whole thing felt like a love letter to city life, but on steroids. The physical comedy and seamless transitions between acts had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The show is broken down into eleven different vignettes, each one exploring a different facet of urban life—everything from being packed into an elevator to stumbling home after a wild night out. One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re holding your breath because someone is hanging upside down on an aerial hoop. And let me tell you, the performers are insane. Their strength, timing, and balance had me questioning if they were even human! I mean, who turns a traffic jam into a perfectly choreographed acrobatic display?!

There were so many highlights, but one that stood out for me was the “drunken stagger” scene. It somehow turned what could’ve been a simple walk home into a graceful, comic masterpiece that felt like a dance with danger. And the way the performers tangled together, creating this beautiful mess of limbs—it was both hilarious and oddly poetic.

The entire show had this electric energy, a sort of pulse that just screams “city life.” It took everything I thought I knew about circuses and flipped it on its head. The director, Daniel Buckland (who has some serious Cirque du Soleil creds), clearly knows how to take acrobatics, juggling, and physical theatre and turn them into a narrative that leaves you feeling exhilarated.

If you’re looking for something fresh, fun, and completely unique, Urban Circus is the show to catch. It’s not just a performance; it’s a reminder that even in the chaos of the city, there’s magic hiding around every corner.

Would I go again? In a heartbeat.

Take a look at some sneak peeks below: Photo Credit goes 100% to the incredible Joanna Pawelczyk

The performers include (in alphabetical order): Brian Ngobese, Carmen Jooste, Claudia Moruzzi, Demi Wentzel, Kirsty Becker, Lufuno Matodzi, Marco Vargas, Nataniel Pires, Nathan Shatkovsky, Phillip Kleynhans and Zenzele Letsoela.