Cirque Berserk! At Riverside Studios, Hammersmith Review

Reviewed by Laura S

Presented by Zippos, Cirque Berserk! Celebrates its 10th anniversary after sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and West End.
As part of the 10th anniversary, Cirque Berserk is running at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, for 5 weeks.

We were thrilled as a family to review Cirque Berserk! At the Riverside Studios. We had previously visited Zippos Circus pre-Covid and had a wonderful time, but my now 5 year old was only a toddler and couldn’t remember much about the visit. My now 8 year old was super excited about the visit to Cirque Berserk and was hoping all his favourite stunts from Zippos would have made it into the Cirque Berserk show and his favourite performers; he was not disappointed.

Cirque Berserk brings the best bits of Zippos Circus to the theatre stage with old favourites and new modern twists, especially for the stage.

From start to finish, we were all in awe of the skills and talents of the performers. With almost 30 performers counted, each skill and act was executed perfectly. These included ariel acrobatics, stunts and the Globe of Death. This was a family favourite for us.

The show is suitable for all ages, and it can be loud at times, so that ear defenders would be wise for people with sensitive hearing.

We found that the show was perfect for our 5 & 8-year-olds, plus we thoroughly enjoyed it as adults—the audience was a mix of families, couples of all ages and extended families.

It is approximately 1hr 40min long with an interval of roughly 20mins. This felt perfect in terms of length.

The theatre is small and intimate, which made the show feel extra special and that we were fully part of the action.
The seating is unallocated- we arrived 20mins before the show started, and the doors had just opened. We managed to get brilliant seats in the centre, 3rd row back. Due to the venue’s small size, you would have a brilliant view from any seat.

I was impressed that the front row was reserved for people with disabilities.

The venue was fully accessible throughout, with plenty of staff on hand to offer assistance if needed.
The bathrooms were clean and spacious on our several visits—plenty of room for an adult and child in a cubicle.

The Riverside Studios includes a: bar, restaurant, café & bakery. We didn’t eat here, but the food smelt and looked delicious. It was bustling with people enjoying themselves.

We did purchase drinks and snacks, which were comparable to similar events.

Riverside Studios is situated in Hammersmith, a few minutes walk from the tube station. With several tube lines passing through Hammersmith, it is an easy-to-reach location in public transport.
There is limited parking on the surrounding roads due to permit restrictions.

Tickets to Cirque Berserk! Cost £24.50 for a child 2-14yrs then £39.50 for 15yr+/adult. Concessions are available too.

Rating: Overall we give Cirque Berserk! 5/5. The show is funny and engaging from start to finish. It will have your belly laughing to jaw-dropping in seconds.
It is highly recommended for all ages. Perfect for a half-term treat.
We will definitely return in the future.

Up to three daily performances from Sunday, 12th February – Saturday, 11th March 2023.

Check the website for tickets and further details:

https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/cirque-berserk-53269/