Remember those hot statues of Greek gods you’d sneak glances at in the back of a dusty library book? Well, they’ve been brought to life by Head First Acrobats at the Peacock Theatre, minus the marble and plus a lot of sweat. It’s a gloriously silly circus cabaret that’s basically Cirque du So Gay.
The gods have stepped down from Olympus (or maybe the Olympic gymnastics team) to let the gays worship at the altar of hedonism. Whether it’s Zeus, Cupid or Dionysus somersaulting across the stage doesn’t really matter; it’s about frisky bodies, skimpy costumes, and arched eyebrows rather than strict adherence to legend. One tug of a toga and this place would need an adult entertainment licence.In a sign that Ozempic might have murdered body positivity, every god is chiselled to perfection. But thanks to a big dollop of fun and plenty of innuendo, the vibe stays on the right side of Broadway Bares rather than tipping into Porn Idol. The cast are equally skilled at comic timing as they are at feats of strength, and it’s this mix that keeps the show playful and alive. Contemporary queer sensibility mashed up with ancient myths.
The storylines are loose and light as a toga and that’s the point. It’s not a deep dive into Homer. This is a celebration of what the human body can do. Years of training and discipline wrapped in a playful drag of literary heritage. Double entendres are about as deep as it gets, but they’re delivered with panache.There are only four performers (Thomas Gorham, Jordan Twartz, Liam Dummer and Callan Harris). A number of set pieces reveal exemplary circus skills in trapeze, whip cracking, contortion, and impossible balances. But it’s the absurd scenarios, such as possessed nuns dancing to Rihanna in Hades that are, literally, funny as hell. It also includes one of the most wickedly inventive strips we have seen on stage. Gypsy Rose Lee advised us that ‘You’ve gotta get a gimmick’ and they certainly did with a naughty cleaner, three statues and a feather duster.
The staging is simple. No lush sets to distract from the athletic talent. Clever lighting and a banging soundtrack do the heavy lifting, letting the performers’ confident chemistry take the spotlight.
Godz overcomes the challenge of an acrobatic showcase where you are watching a lot of flips and circus tricks. Its humour, inventive queerness, and joy cut through. It’s as homoerotic as it is hilarious but it never relies on just its good looks. The talent is there.
So forget the Iliad, this is Up Pompeii with abs. The gods are at home amongst us in the West End
| Queerguru Contributing Editor ANDREW HEBDEN is a MEDIA and cultural STUDIES graduate spending his career between London, Beijing, and NYC as an expert in media and social trends. As part of the expanding minimalist FIRE movement, he recently returned to the UK and lives in Soho. He devotes as much time as possible to the movies, theatre, and the gym. His favorite thing is to try something (anything) new every day. |
