Feel-good Fun: YUCK Circus: Naughties Review | Zoe Sievwright

★★★★

If you want a show that feels like an absolute party from start to finish, YUCK Circus: Naughties is where it’s at. This brilliant, all-female troupe bring their signature high-octane Australian energy straight to the Edinburgh Fringe, taking the audience on a hilariously chaotic trip right back to the early 2000s. From the exact second the music kicks off, the entire venue transforms into a loud, high-energy throwback night out that makes it completely impossible not to sit there with a massive smile on your face.

The tricks and acrobatics stacked across the full hour are genuinely top-tier. These women make mind-boggling physical feats look almost casual, flinging each other up into massive human towers, pulling off insanely sharp balances, and launching into aerial routines that had everyone leaning forward in their seats. Every single trick landed perfectly, but what makes the show so captivating is how much genuine personality they inject into the performance. They aren't standing there being overly serious or rigid about their skills; they are constantly cracking jokes, messing around, and having the time of their lives on stage together.

A huge part of what makes the show look so visually stunning is the incredibly clever lighting design. The production team play around with the darkness in really creative ways, using dark-lit moments and glowing elements to make every flip, tumble, and spin look even more dramatic. The high contrast between the pitch-black venue background and the brightly lit props give the bigger stunts an extra splash of spectacle, turning what is already an impressive physical trick into something that looks ridiculously cool, polished, and cinematic.

Holding the whole madness together is the brilliant Y2K theme. You are hit with a constant stream of pure nostalgia, from the iconic music choices and outfits to the quick-witted host who keeps the crowd completely engaged between the big set pieces. There is an infectious camaraderie across the whole team that just radiates off the stage and makes you feel like you are part of the crew. It’s loud, empowering, and insanely entertaining from start to finish.

From the jaw-dropping group pyramids to the snappy crowd work, every element is purposefully staged to keep the momentum soaring high throughout the entire hour. It stands as a brilliant masterclass in feel-good festival entertainment, cementing YUCK Circus as an absolute powerhouse act.

YUCK Circus: Naughties was performed at Palais du Variété – Assembly George Square Gardens from 6-30 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.

By Zoe Sievwright