Underbelly makes a triumphant post-pandemic return to its spiritual home at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with 10 incredible shows spanning circus, cabaret, comedy, variety and more.
Showcasing the most awe-inspiring acts from the UK and across the globe, Underbelly’s Circus Hub plays host to an incredibly diverse line-up with performers from the USA to Australia and Ethiopia to Canada. It takes place at venues The Lafayette and The Beauty – as well as a charming bar, Underbelly’s Circus Hub.
One of the shows to watch CIRQUE ALFONSE: ANIMAL, a dazzling and delightful show for all the family, filled with zany antics that flips the farm from agricultural to funky.
The Artiscape spoke with Antoine Carabinier Lépine, one of the founders of Cirque Alfonse and artist on stage
How did you start out in this type of work?
Lépine: I went to the National Circus school of Montréal for 3 years.
After that I worked for many companies like, Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize, The 7 Fingers, Cirkus Cirkor etc…
Then with my sister Julie, we decided to put a show together for the 60th Birthday of my dad and its when Cirque Alfonse was created.
Can you tell us about CIRQUE ALFONSE: ANIMAL?
Lépine: We lived in a small farm at my parents place and its where we do all our creation.
At Cirque Alfonse we always do shows about Québec roots and traditions so for us its was kind of natural to do a show about farming.
The show is really multidisciplinary, theres acrobatic for sure but also dance, comedy and a big part of the show is the music!
Its was composed by David Simard and its a agricol funk type of music! We have 3 live musicians and the acrobat play music as well.
What qualities are necessary to become a circus acrobat?
Lépine: We need to persevere all the time, to follow your dream! And of course a lot of training. You just need to love what you do!
What were the challenges in putting the show together?
Lépine: We always try to learn new discipline in a short period of time….for example we learn Icarian in a wheel barrel, we are doing teeterboard with a tractor tire that kind of things! My dad is climbing on a 4 m perche on my shoulders at 75 years old!
Who will enjoy the show?
Lépine: Everybody of course! There is part for children as for parents, teens and grandparents!!!!
#EDFRINGE
