Sophie’s Surprise 29th returns to Underbelly’s Circus Hub after scoring a massive hit last year. Produced by Three Legged Race Productions, founded by Katharine Arnold, Isis Clegg-Vinell, and Nathan Price, who also perform, in association with Underbelly. This is circus with a twist, chaotic and madly entertaining.
From the moment you step into The Beauty, a magnificent big top venue, it feels like walking straight into a wild 90s house party. Party blowers, hats, and goodie bags are handed out as banging tunes blare, with performers popping up across the arena, egging the crowd to sing along. As a late-night show, there are drinkers, stag groups, hen parties and others all looking for a good night out, and they certainly are not disappointed.
What sets Sophie’s Surprise 29th apart from standard circus fare is the narrative. The stunts are woven into the 90s-set storyline filled with classic tropes: the geek, the Goth, the sports hunk (spoiler alert, they have a much, much ruder name!), and the “ugly girl” who transforms. Meanwhile, “Sophie” is an unsuspecting audience member plucked from the crowd with a party hat placed on their head, though even by the end, I still was not entirely sure if they were a plant. While the stage rig gets reset, the performers keep us distracted with comedy vignettes: a girlfriend cheating on their serious Goth partner with the hunk, or the geek attempting to deal drugs. Delivered with incredible energy, sharp comic timing, and fun audience participation, the party shtick works brilliantly.
Underneath the comedy, the talent is serious business. Featuring world-class artists from Cirque du Soleil, La Clique, and The 7 Fingers, their expertise shines through every death-defying feat. From roller-skating double acts and aerialists to high-wire rope work, the lifts and spins were so dizzying that this audience member involuntarily screamed more than once. Performed entirely in the round, the staging draws you in from every angle. There isn’t a bad seat in the big top.
The overall atmosphere of Sophie’s Surprise 29th feels like the ultimate house party packed with killer tunes and loads of thrills. Be warned: there is plenty of strong language, nudity, and cheeky humour, but it only adds to the fun. A personal highlight? Watching the naked biscuit-juggling geek getting dressed on a unicycle. It’s not every day you get to write that in a review!
Listings and ticket information can be found here
