Heralded as the marquee event of the Southland Arts Festival, the gravity-defying spectacular Human is nothing short of spellbinding.

This is artistry with an edge.  

From acclaimed Kiwi aerial circus troupe The Dust Palace, Human is a sultry blend of aerial stunts and cabaret that takes the capabilities of the body to bend and flex to places that seem surreal. The group comes out swinging from the second the show opens and the pace doesn’t let up.

This is no run-of-the-mill circus.

Lithe, with muscles stacked upon muscles, the members of the cirque are an impressive sight to behold. Their costumes shimmer and sparkle with every burst of movement. Their athleticism is effortless – feats made all the more stunning considering they are often whirling and dangling high above the stage, their power evident in every pose they contort into.

Their timing is impeccable; the prowess of every member of the troupe on full display at all times. These are consummate performers: their energy, infectious; their swagger, relentless.

Whether solo, duo, or in a group, they use an impressive array of props – from silks and trapeze to hoops, chairs stacked ever-higher and a metallic whirling dervish – to perfection.

Just when you think each stunt cannot be matched, mouths of the audience agape, the next instalment begins; a blast of frenetic but artfully controlled energy that ebbs and flows. The heady blend of acts is varied and intriguing; nothing feels repetitive or well-trod.

The rhythm makes it impossible to tear your eyes away, but with three stages (the main stage, and two secondary stages) and a relatively large cast there are more details to capture than mere eyesight can manage.

The show is set to a soundtrack of gritty, rippling rock (think Jack White guitar licks), which dials the tone to ‘pulsating’ for the night. During the occasional live musical interlude, entertainer Shane Cortese demonstrates a decent set of pipes and internationally-awarded pianist Flavio Villani adds to the smoky intimacy of the performances before us. Their interludes – as well as a saucy guitar number – give the energy of the show a shakeup.

With Human, the Dust Palace delivers an unforgettable performance. It really is world-class, and Human certainly lives up to the hype.

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