Adelaide is well known as ‘the festive state’, thanks to our many festivals held throughout the year.
Adelaide Fringe is one of the longest running arts festivals in the world (starting in 1960), and the way Adelaide comes alive during Fringe season is something else. It needs to be experienced. Adelaide Fringe attracts amazing performers from around the globe, but there’s such a sense of pride when you find an amazing homegrown talent at the festival, especially an Adelaide based act. Gravity and Other Myths is exactly that for me this year!
Director Darcy Grant and composer and singer Ekrem Eli Phoenix have combined their creative forces, along with associate director Jascha Boyce, and production designer Matt Adey to create The Mirror. Together, these talented individuals are clearly a creative group that has pushed the boundaries in all aspects of this show.
To be honest, I booked The Mirror on a bit of a whim, wanting to try something a little different this year, stepping away from the usual comedy or theatre offerings I usually see, and I thought that circus would be a good next step. Little did I know, I was about to have my world rocked and my mind blown!
If you asked me to tell you exactly what The Mirror is about, I’d struggle to do so. Not because it’s not apparent, it’s just difficult to put into words all the aspects that make this show so great. Plus, I believe it would have a different meaning or story behind it for every individual that experiences it. At its core, The Mirror is a journey of self-discovery, internal struggle, confusion and acceptance. It’s a journey.
The first thing that you’d notice is the impeccably composed music that fuels this show, as this is the first element we experience as it blasts from a boombox on the stage, slowly filling the venue and your ears. Ekrem Eli Phoenix is the mastermind behind this handcrafted aural journey. He is an extremely talented composer and performer, as he adds haunting live vocals to the show. The music is deep and thumping with a modern electronic sound, blended with orchestral and classical elements. A perfect mix that brings the performers to life and compliments the story.
Gravity and Other Myths ensemble is an incredibly tight night group. The dozen or so performers worked together flawlessly, like they were all controlled by the same puppet master. The show is well polished, the communication and trust that the performers put into each other is inspiring but warranted to be able to pull off the amazing feats on stage as they stack, flip, fly and swing around the venue. I can’t really say there was a standout, because everyone was so damn good! I’ve never seen acrobatics to this level before!
I absolutely loved the production of this show! Although the costumes were quite simple for most of the show in black or white outfits, I felt this stripped back aesthetic allowed for the acrobatics and the production itself to really shine bright. The Mirror made use of incredibly unique lighting, a LED frame light, LCD screen and modern tech to create some fascinating and enthralling moments. I especially loved the use of selfie sticks and camera phones to show some interestingly different angles.
The Mirror is a fun, cheeky and jaw dropping show. A perfect blend of cabaret and circus with a dash of humour and humility. You couldn’t really ask for anything more from this show! The Mirror has a buzz, an energy that flows over you. My feet were tapping and my jaw was on the floor! I’ve been raving about this production ever since. The Mirror is a must see at this year’s Adelaide Fringe.
The Mirror is on at The Octagon at Gluttony (Rymill Park) at 9.30pm nightly for the duration of Adelaide Fringe, ending March 23.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-mirror-af2025
https://www.gravityandothermyths.com
Photography by Andy Phillipson.
