Review: YOAH

In its hour-long show, Yoah exhibits a new genre of circus, combining typical aerial and acrobatic stunts with a modern display of light and sound. The show follows aerial artist Tsumugi Masui in the titular role of Yoah in a storyline that focuses on themes of fear and hope with impressive displays of acrobatics and juggling.

While the artists themselves are highly skilled and pull off nail-biting maneuvers, it is nothing that hasn’t been seen at any other circus. What really gives the show its innovative label is the creative use of visual and sound effects. The score is immensely impressive: a blend of natural water sounds, traditional Japanese drumming and both classical and electronic music. Despite the range being so wide, the genres fuse in a satisfying synthesis with the show and adds a deeper layer of emotion.

The light display is just as diverse as the sound, and effectively experiments with a range of colour, shape, and interactivity with the performers. Yoah is an extreme sensory experience worth seeing for the visuals alone, however the narrative feels unfinished, as the emphasis is on the digital effects rather than the artists’ skill or arc of the story. While it is clear that Yoah is an immersive exhibition of a show typically done on a larger scale, the energy of the performers and the new circus ground they are breaking is still a highly impressive feat.

YOAH, Gluttony, until 10 March