The Brighton Spiegeltent is a venue located in the Old Steine. Upon entering, there are various food and alcohol stalls that make up the venue, and the number of people there told me that this was an exceptionally popular place! And as it included free Wi-Fi, that makes this venue earn an extra point of awesomeness.
However, I was there for one reason: the Bosco Theater. Established in 1909, this is where Upside Down and Inside Out was taking place. The Bosco Theater's exterior is adorned with old-fashioned circus colours that betray just how long it's been part of the Spiegeltent.
Inside, there were some props on stage; a mat, an umbrella and a red box. A relatively small space for a circus show, but it actually taps into the old days of circus acts. There were more children than adults who came to see this show, but that didn't bother me - circus shows are meant for families after all.
As for the show itself, it was an amazing experience from start to finish. A man and a woman entered bearing umbrellas producing water, implying that "it was raining last night". As they came onto the stage, that's where the show began. The man provided comedy and silliness for the kids - and some adult humour for the parents, while the woman provided gymnastics, athletic ability and a flexible body - there was even a bit of unexpected audience interaction where two men received a white rose, only to be called onto the stage to be dressed up and act as support weights. Even though it only lasted 30 minutes, this new take on something old proves that short really can be sweet.
Overall, it was a great end to my Brighton Fringe experience and I recommend this show to those who don't mind seeing a fresh look on the circus.
Circus shows are definitely on the downturn in recent days...it's a shame, as some of them offer amazing acts for their audiences.