REVIEW: Brave Space at The Lowry

Six performers, one hour, one tent. During this time, Brave Space manages to excel in everything that it seeks to. Enchant, entertain, and just a little shock, and just like its name, it does so with the artists (and audiences) braveness at its forefront.

What starts as a simple, circular, white piece of fabric draped upon The Lowry’s warehouse floor, grows over time into an intimate, albeit borderline claustrophobic, viewing tent in which the audience gleefully gathers in shared anticipation. Growing in size over the hour, the surrounding fabric rises higher and higher as the artists take greater risks whilst also managing to strengthen the audiences’ intrigue and reverence.

Originally from Chicago, the Aloft Circus Arts troupe consists of seven; Shanya Swanson (Tour manager and director) and six astonishing acrobats; Rachel Nesnevich, Zoe Sheppard, Linnea Ridolfi, Hayley Larson, Heather Dart, and Sarah Tapper. Performing as far back as 2005, the group continues to sell out shows in America, and the UK, with shows consisting of juggling, ariel arts, and acrobatics; to name a few.

What was created as “an antidote to the horrors of the daily news cycle”, the 60-minute-long performance pairs audience input with mesmerising stunts. Now the artists themselves may not consider the acts to be worthy of the title ‘stunts’, but all in attendance would undoubtedly agree that the acts did at times evoke real moments of shock and awe. Certainly not your typical night out at the theatre, but for good reason.

The audience is asked to put their faith in one another as much as the performers, with attendees being invited intermittently to partake in responsibilities that would make even the Fonzies’ palms sweaty, such as holding a metal pole tightly in place whilst a performer raises themselves 8 feet in the air upon it; with no safety net or soft ground beneath them. Direct involvement is not required from all to enjoy the show but only heightens the overall experience for those lucky few who are asked.

The highlight (no pun intended) perhaps had to be ‘The duo sling’ act performed by Hayley and Linnea, which had the two artists swinging melodically and gracefully high above the audience’s heads. More so remarkable due to its unusual perspective; as we were invited to lay on our backs, and gaze up at the unravelling of fabric restraints and deadly aerobatics from an unseen angle mere meters above our heads.

The whole performance was paired perfectly with music to match its calming but occasionally unpredictable temperament. The simple yet striking set design only added to the overall aesthetics of intimacy and fantasy. Throughout, lyrics such as ‘Good girls can fly’ and ‘You are safe here’ practically floated through what little space there was between the artist high above and the spectators down below.

Unlike anything you are likely to have seen before, Brave Space manages to squeeze together aspects of contemporary dance, circus-centric acts, and audience participation, culminating in an impulsive congregation in the tiniest of tents.