YUCK Circus

• Thom Dibdin
• 5 August 2019

credit: Vicki Jones

All-female Australian troupe with bags of strength, agility and humour

Big on macho posturing and even bigger on laughing at the same, the seven strong YUCK circus troupe struts out onto the stage in nothing but black crop tops and big knickers.

Bold, it may be, but it's the pair of socks down the front of those big pants and the double smear of black make-up across their upper lip area which sets the tone for the tightly choreographed opening acrobatic routine.

In full-on drag king mode, the performers pull their Australian bloke poses and get laughs for their lascivious winks and leers at the audience. But there are proper shows of strength and agility amid the comedy and at least one balance routine that no male could pull off, no matter how toned they were.

The reason for the show's title becomes clear in a dance sequence, performed to a comic monologue about periods which also reveals that there aren't just socks down the front of those big pants. And that is just the start, as the show hits topics such as alcohol boasting, lady gardens and a unique presentation of the old nail up the nose trick, before ending on the high of lip-syncing to 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A Man After Midnight'. It's a ripper.

Underbelly's Circus Hub, until 24 Aug (not 12, 19), 4pm, £13.50–£15.50 (£12.50–£14.50).