A breathtaking hour of movement, precision and human connection takes over the Playhouse stage.
From the opening moments, this is one hour of non-stop dynamics, physicality and extraordinary timing that demands your attention from start to finish.
Having DIAVOLO Artistic Director Jacques Heim introduce the opening night performance gave the evening an extra lift, before the stage erupted into what can only be described as a boundary-breaking fusion of human movement, acrobatics, dance and incredible physical structures.
What makes ESCAPE so fascinating is the sheer number of creative elements happening around the performers — and yet nothing feels accidental. Every movement, every shift of the structures and every change in formation appears to be timed with extraordinary precision.
Watching the performers interact with these architectural structures is a performance in itself. They become extensions of the human body, creating moments of tension, danger, freedom and discovery, while the performers move around and through them with a confidence that comes from what must be countless hours of rehearsal.
There is something quite mesmerising about the simplicity of some of the movement, followed by the cleverness of what these structures can become.
And underneath all that athleticism is a story that feels surprisingly human.
ESCAPE explores the idea that at times we can find ourselves living inside our own boxes — caught up in pressures, frustrations and the traps of everyday life. We can fight, become angry and feel as though we have to make our way through everything alone.
But as the performance unfolds, another message begins to emerge: that we are stronger when we work together, look out for one another and find our way towards connection rather than isolation.
That sense of collaboration is everywhere on the stage.
The energy between the performers, the music and the structures creates a constantly changing landscape, moving between moments of intensity, vulnerability and sheer exhilaration. The soundtrack, spanning different decades and genres, adds another layer to the experience and helps drive the performance forward without allowing the energy to drop.
What impressed me most was the precision.There is nothing easy about what these performers are doing. The physical demands are enormous, but it is the timing and trust between everyone on stage that really makes ESCAPE work. One movement depends on another. One performer responds to another. The structures themselves become part of the choreography. That level of precision doesn’t happen by accident.
DIAVOLO’s signature approach — bringing together dance, stunt work, acrobatics, circus arts and pedestrian movement — creates something that sits outside the traditional boundaries of theatre and dance.
And perhaps that is exactly why ESCAPE is so captivating.It is quite simply an out-of-the-box production. It is energetic, visually inventive and at times breathtaking, but it also leaves you with something to think about: how we navigate the structures of our own lives and how much more powerful the journey can become when we stop trying to escape alone.
ESCAPE is playing at the Playhouse until 27 September.
If you are looking for something different, something physical, visceral and completely engaging, this is one to tick off your theatre list.
DIAVOLO’s ESCAPE demands — and deserves — huge applause.
