The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half

Underbelly

There are some performances that entertain you for an hour, and others that stay with you for some time afterwards. Step and a Half, from The Palestinian Circus, is firmly in the latter category.

Blending contemporary circus with traditional Palestinian folk dance, the show is energetic, exuberant and well choreographed, but there is an emotional weight beneath the joy that makes it particularly powerful. The result is a joyous celebration of Palestinian identity, culture and resilience. Visually, the performances are striking. The creative lighting adds a layer of visual magic, from the mesmerising changing colours of the half-lit juggling rings to the fire poi sequence, both of which leave an impression. I particularly loved the costumes, which incorporate traditional Palestinian elements, including beautiful embroidery and the unmistakable keffiyeh. At one point, the keffiyeh acts as a flag as it hangs suspended from a leg high in the air during an aerial sequence – a simple but incredibly evocative image.

The circus itself is skilfully executed, with aerial work, acrobatics, cyr wheel, juggling and diabolo all tightly choreographed to the music. Each performer has a chance to showcase their individual circus skills in turn. The soundtrack is one of the show’s great strengths: a fantastic blend of traditional and contemporary Arabic music, with some seriously banging beats. The diabolo sequence in particular is exhilarating, accelerating in perfect synchronisation as the beat drops.

Yet it is not just the circus acts that entertain us. Woven throughout the performance, the traditional dancing brings the performers together with energy and enthusiasm, creating a genuine sense of connection and shared joy on stage.

That joy is also given a deeper meaning by the words spoken between the acts. A voiceover reminds us that “joy is an act of resistance” –a phrase that captures the spirit of the entire performance. This isn’t simply a circus performance showcasing impressive physical skills; it is a celebration of culture and community, with the company also working to inspire and nurture the next generation of Palestinian circus performers.

The most moving moment comes at the end. Following the performance, the producer addresses the audience, introducing the performers individually and telling us where in Palestine each of them is from. He explains some of the challenges they have faced, both to become professional performers and to make it to Edinburgh to perform at the Fringe in front of us.

And perhaps that is what makes the performance so affecting. The performers invite us into their world through their energy, their movement, their music and their extraordinary physical skill. The result is not a performance defined by hardship, but one that celebrates identity, community and, above all, joy.

For an hour, the stage becomes a place where Palestinian identity is not defined by conflict, but by music, movement and collective hope.

Beautiful and deeply moving. A very special Fringe experience. 

Our mini-reviewer said : ‘As a teenager, I thought this show was absolutely incredible and extremely moving. Each circus act told its own story about resilience and hope. If I had to choose a favourite moment in the performance it would have to be the collective aerial performance because of how beautiful the story about losing connections was subtly told through the movements of the performers.‘

(Written by Elika Aspinall)