Europe Reviews Travel

REVIEW || FINALE at the Chamaeleon Theatre, Berlin

confetti

I’ve had the huge privilege to travel to Berlin and to review the Chamaeleon Theatre show Underart, and then later I returned to review “Parade I was overjoyed to get to return this year to review their most recent show “FINALE”.

I always try to start my reviews about the Chamaeleon Theatre by trying to explain what kind of shows they put on. The Chamaeleon Theatre specialises in “New Circus” (no animals!) which is more akin to a physical theatre/clowning/cirque show than you might think when you first hear the word “circus”. But feel free to think contortion, juggling, balancing, acrobatics, aerial performances, etc. Someone else online called it “circus meets variety” and I think that’s a pretty apt description. 

Despite being based in Berlin, I believe that ANALOG is one of the first Berlin-based groups that I’ve had the pleasure to see at the Chamaeleon. They are a young company (founded in 2013) but very vibrant and full of energy. It’s interesting to note that ANALOG company founder Florian Zumkehr has a long history with the Chamaeleon: he started his circus career  at the Chamaeleon theatre 10 years ago in the show “SOAP! The Show”, so it must feel very satisfying to now be back in the space spearheading his own show.

It wasn’t perhaps the most polished circus show that I’ve seen but the sheer joy and enthusiasm that the cast exudes is infectious. Of the three shows that I’ve seen so far, I think that this perhaps had the best audience reaction. The entire audience was grinning jubilantly by the time the show came to its close. 

FINALE wanted to invite the audience to feel like they were on a wild evening with eight friends and they succeeded in that in spades. ANALOG aims to make their circus performances a close bond with the audience and they’ve nailed their aim. I loved how percussive this show was; the drum beats really drove the piece and it reminded me of Ivo van Hove’s “A View From The Bridge” in that respect. The strongest section of the show is the last 15 minutes. The performers keep the energy high and the pace quick, with acrobatic tumble after tumble. There’s so much going on combined with a literal explosion of confetti that the audience doesn’t quite know where to look. (In the best sort of way.) 

One of my favourite pieces of movement in the show came from Carlos Zaspel doing some spell-binding and mind-bending spinning pole work. I’d never seen anything like it before! Bertan Canbeldek’s rhythmic juggling was spell-binding whilst huge props go to the musical duo Ena Wild and Lukas Thielecke. Their compositions and performance really elevated the whole piece. And Wild’s costume changes where thrilling. I couldn’t wait between sections for the next time she appeared on stage so that I could see what sort of hat she had on now. 

The whole piece vibrated with community spirit, humour and grace. It was an exhilarating experience and I can’t wait to see what the future brings for this company. 

Even though I’ve been multiple times now, the gorgeous, sumptuous historic art nouveau ballroom that the theatre is based in in Hackesche Höfe never fails to take my breath away.

Did I mention that you can get delicious table service of food and drink throughout the show? 

The Chamaeleon Theatre is located at Rosenthaler Str. 40/41, 10178 Berlin. You can get tickets to FINALE here

chamaeleon theatre
chamaeleon
balancing on board
confetti
aerial aerial performance acrobatics
swinging pole pole
FINALE the show
FINALE

This was the first of their shows that I was able to take photos of, so they aren’t as amazing as their professional ones, but I had such a good time taking them that I had to use them here! 

Would you book tickets to see a new circus production? 

****I was a guest of the Chamaeleon Theater, but all opinions are solely my own. ***

If you want to see my previous reviews of the Chamaeleon you can find them below: 

Underdart
Parade

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