Hilarious and shocking in equal measure, Godz makes for a very unique night out!
Created by Head First Acrobats, a performance company from Melbourne, and having already won a plethora of fringe awards in 2022, Godz has landed at Brighton Fringe in the Brighton Spiegeltent with thrilling acrobatic performances. The show focuses on four notable Greek Gods from mythology, fixating mainly on the demi-god Hercules, and their adventures as they show off a wide variety of acrobatic and circus tricks.
Featuring a soundtrack of familiar songs – including a fabulous number of Hercules doing tricks to Disney’s ‘Zero to Hero’, the four acrobats give incredible performances. They bring banter and playfulness to each of their characters. However – do not be fooled into thinking this show is suitable for children. There are moments, described by the cast as “very fucking obvious” to be the occassions not to take pictures, which categorise this show as very much adult.
If I had to describe it, I would say Godz is an exciting blend of Cirque du Soleil and Magic Mike, with a touch of comedic improv thrown in.
The true standouts of this show are down to production. The lighting and sound cues in this show are used in such smart and entertaining ways. With a lot of fringe shows I think the tech can sometimes be overlooked or not paid as much close attention to compared with bigger productions, but I was really impressed at how cohesive every element of the show felt.
The only part that felt like a little bit of a letdown was the vague story that accompanied the wonderful acrobatic performances. Whilst the performers are giving fantastic energy and connect with the audience throughout, the story leaves a lot to be desired and definitely feels like it was shoehorned in to fit to the acts the company had already decided on. Aside from the costumes and the booming (albeit, slightly unnecessary) narration of Zeus, there is not a lot that links back to Greek mythology. I think it could have been a really nice touch if they had found a way to incorporate the legends of each of the gods in more detail – there are little nods and references, but anyone without any prior knowledge would have missed out on these small moments altogether.
Overall, Godz is an incredibly entertaining and sexy show. Head First Acrobats have the charisma and showmanship to keep you mesmerised (but this certainly isn’t a history or literature class!)
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{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}
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