Spiegelworld and the Spiegel Tent, Civic Theatre Newcastle
Friday November 15th 2013 :
From the time you enter the former Fred Ash building site in Newcastle, you can feel the vibe of “The Empire”. Upon entry there is a beer garden and bar equipped with swinging chairs for entertainment. The tent itself is magical. It takes five days to construct and is held together with no nails or bolts. Antique decorative wood, mirrors and stained glass overrun your mind when you go inside. It is truly hard to believe until you see it how intimate this setting is. Even from the cheap seats you could hear the performers breathe.
From the start Spiegelworld is difficult to categorise, so why bother? Why not enjoy the ride? Yes it’s crude, raunchy and very funny. Let’s not forget there is a surplus of talent and skill on show as well. Each performer takes on a stage name. For the next 90 minutes you are on a rollercoaster of singing, dancing, foot juggling, roller skating and banana eating fun.
Miss A in a Bubble started the show from above the stage within her aerial sphere and contortion, the Gorilla Girls promptly turned into three gorgeous acrobats from the Ukraine and the list went on. It truly is a spoiler to readers telling them every little detail. For me the absolute highlight was Memet Bilgin AKA 3D Graffiti Guy – the Sanddorn Branch Balance has to be seen to be believed. The show would not be complete without some soulful music provided by Casey Jamerson AKA Miss Purple and backed by guitarist John Shannon AKA Moondog from the USA.
This is truly an amazing show, something Newcastle has never seen before and we are really lucky to have it here for a month. I recommend everyone go and see it. Somewhere amongst the seven acts you will find a favorite. At the same time take a look around; you could be in remote Europe, Morocco or the Middle East, it is just that good.
Photographer and Reviewer: David Jackson
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