Part of Take Me Somewhere 2019
Photos: Brian Hartley.
Bassline Circus and MHz with Feral have created a fine show here, straddling theatre, circus and dance. Kid_X is a futuristic fairytale of the titular character, a dancer with a Nanoheart (Malick Bright) and his burgeoning love affair with rooftop selfie acrobat Gabriella (Amanda Attwood).
At the centre of it all is megalomaniac scientist Dr Lazarus (singer /MC Eva Lazarus) who regards Kid_X as her property, and makes millions from nefarious methods. Lazarus is badass, a commanding presence with a heavenly, soulful voice. The soundtrack from Mungo’s Hi Fi is brilliant old school dancehall.
Bright and Attwood are an exceptional pairing, their movements a dazzling collision of juddering street dance and circus skills, but their characters follow a questionable trajectory: Gabriella is a symbol of validation through social media; Kid_X effectively cyberstalks her to win her approval.
Nonetheless, it’s a visual feast and a thrilling experience. The 3D animation from Once Were Farmers goes from breathtaking urban vistas to scientific laboratories, crash-landing directly inside Instagram scrolls.
It feels like a warning to all about not succumbing to digital overload, ditching the tech for human interaction, and getting back to basics.
thetempohouse 