Review: Welcome to the Future – ‘Circus with a message’

Welcome to the Future: An immersive spectacular, a glimpse into a legendary past and a hazy future.

A poignant ending and hope for new beginnings propelled by the infinite potential of the imagination.

A last hurrah for Bristol’s ‘mythical band of troubadours and artist clowns’ The Invisible Circus at their Unit 15 home.

The warehouse in St Philips has housed the troupe and been the set for countless performances, as well as providing a quality training space for the city’s circus community, for 20 years.

The space will now be redeveloped for student housing.

Giant eviction notices and “caravans out” signs lined the courtyard as we entered, pointing to a way of life under threat, the underground routed out and replaced by a homogenous world without character, spark, play, those things that make us feel truly alive.

“This building is a theatre set for the drama of life – but now a new show is coming to town.”

It was a joyful, thought-provoking and fittingly emotional farewell from Doug Francisco and troupe, long known for fusing fantastical sets, show-stopping performances and live music with social commentary.

Doug’s acerbic Fagin-esque ringmaster spouted melancholic anti-establishment poetry and poured scorn on the trappings of modernity, goading his performers to ‘keep it sexy’ for the sake of the socials –

– screaming, in anguish, “Is this the death of art?!”

For some in the crowd, including myself, it was all far too real. We bore witness to gentrification in action as these performers gave their all to the last performance in this space which, for many on stage, was also their home.

“It’s all precarious, impermanent – a house of cards, a balancing act…”

Questions around the destruction of Bristol’s creative independents were embodied in the ‘cultural graveyard’ which held a shrine to arts establishments past and a book for visitors to commemorate their own losses.

But…“The invisible circus is going on around you all the time – you don’t need a ticket, but blink and you’ll miss it…”

A grinning ribbon artist stalked, spun, and slipped faster than light from ceiling to stage, to audible gasps.

A clown diffidently demonstrated his absurd abilities with ball and club, to roars of laughter and yells of delight.

A strongman flipped and tumbled on a trapeze, to melodramatically wailing guitar.

A euphoric climax: spinning hoops, wild trapeze, the air filled with white feather confetti, a host of elated performers jumping, tumbling, juggling and dancing. We laughed, swooned, gaped and even shed a tear.

The show was world-class, combining evocative live music from members of local legends, the Carny Villains, with a sense of purpose often missing from the big top. This was circus with a message.

The tragic context imbued the words and stunts with meaning, made the show’s power all the more authentic.

But all is not lost. Before departing on his piano chariot pedalled by the infamous Rimski, Doug offered the bittersweet glimmer of hope we all needed to spiral out from the carefree world of colour, laughter, music and mayhem to life beyond these magical walls: “The future is unwritten!!”

This isn’t the end of the Invisible Circus. We’re left mourning the loss for this space but grateful for so many years of inspiration while, as the music ends and the curtains close, the troupe head off into the sunrise ready to spin more dreams into reality. A new day, a new place to transform.

Because, as their own origin story relates, “In some ways, it’s all about beginnings, new beginnings, reinventions, rebirths & revolutions. It’s always beginning, it’s never-ending.”

Anyone got a spare warehouse?

All photos: Ursula Billington / Simon Alexander

Read next:

• Bristol Circus City 2023 begins
• Circus performer breaks ‘death-defying’ world record
• Bristol Protect Our NHS host Banner Theatre’s protest show ‘Enough is Enough!’

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