West End Show review: Machine de Cirque at Peacock Theatre

Machine de Cirque is a Québec City-based circus company staging a poetic and humorous production in which six guys find themselves alone in the world. They embark on a quest to contact other survivors with the help of a strange machine. 

In a universe devoid of women and computers, they easily let themselves get distracted by their flights of fantasy and share a special talent for getting themselves into tricky situations. 
 
Demonstrating impressive acrobatic skills and masterful handling of a teeterboard, juggling clubs, a drum kit and even a bath towel, the acclaimed Machine de Cirque combines circus, spectacle, storytelling and live music in this witty production.  
 

Machine de Cirque: The Company 
Founded in 2013 under the initiative of Vincent Dubé, Raphaël Dubé, Yohann Trépa-nier, Ugo Dario, Maxim Laurin and Frédéric Lebrasseur, Machine de Cirque launched its very first production – the Company?s namesake show – in May 2015 to rave reviews by both audiences and critics alike.  

This maiden production, including its cabaret version, has been performed more than 700 times in Europe, Asia and North America. More than 300,000 spectators have attended this show and this number continues to grow. Since then, four more shows have been added to Machine de Cirque?s roster of productions. In 2018, a travelling show titled Truck Stop: The Great Journey told the story of a group of zany campers as they embarked on a wild adventure across the North American continent. Then, in 2019, Machine deCirque created a third pro-duction titled La Galerie, in which spectators were taken on a trip to the outer boundaries of art by means of a totally out-of-this-world exhibit where movements from white to colour and shifting sets created the most unexpected scenes.  

In summer 2020, despite the pandemic, the Company presented a walk-through circus show titled Fleuve at the Baie de Beauport (Québec). Most recently, in 2020, Ghost Light: Between Fall and Flight made its world debut at the prestigious Festival du cirqueactuel CIRCA in Auch (France). New productions are also currently on the drawing board. They are all based on the Company?s artistic signature, which skilfully blends the highest levels of contemporary circus with musical and theatrical performances, propelled by the collaborative spirit that drives Machine de Cirque. 

Machine de Cirque is a Québec City-based circus company that packs high doses of dizzying feats, powerful emotions, poetry, intelligence and humour into its in-innovative and original circus shows. The Company?s ingenious and deeply human creations skilfully blend the highest levels of contemporary circus with musical and theatrical performances. Driven by this unifying vision, Machine de Cirque?s unique approach to the circus arts produces shows that dazzle the mind, touch the heart and move the spirit. 

Sadler’s Wells  
Sadler’s Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.? We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring close to 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown.?  

Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres – Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. In 2023 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the Choreographic School and Hip Hop Theatre Academy.   

Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin’ Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances.   

Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally.   

Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.??