Swedish trio Sirqus Alfon’s I am Somebody show an “interactive mash-up of circus, cabaret, Nintendo and Scandinavia electronic dance music”

CIRCUS/ CABARET Sirqus Alfon: I am Somebody 4 stars The Rechabite’s Hall REVIEW SIMON COLLINS Call it tech-cabaret, digital circus or an 8-bit variety hour. Whatever it is, Sirqus Alfon moves clowning out of tents and into the age of Instagram. In fact, using social media during the Swedish trio’s interactive mash-up of circus, cabaret, Nintendo, Scandinavia electronic dance music and the ‘gram was not only allowed, it was encouraged. Which is smart given that I Am Somebody is visually stunning but sometimes more about gimmickry than great ideas. And lasers. Lots and lots of lasers. So if you’re somebody who loves bright green beams of light, then this is the Fringe World show for you. Sirqus Alfon is led by Erik Rosales, aka Babham, who runs the show with a hacked Nintendo Wii glued to a megaphone. He’s joined on stage by bassist Emilio and hyperactive drummer Ejve — the trio met at high school in 1997 before hitting the streets of Europe and settling in Berlin. After a nifty robotic hip-hop and Robocop inspired dance routine with torches, the performers were introduced a la characters from a video game. This led to a very clever Street Fighter smack-down, which Babham won to establish that he is the leader. Well, after all, he does have the Wii stuck on a megaphone. The audience were soon roped in via being surreptitiously filmed and then remixed into a video set to a banging techno track. (Sirqus Alfon performed at late EDM superstar Avicii’s Christmas party one year.) Sirqus Alfon did this trick on America’s Got Talent a few years back to finally win over nasty judge Simon Cowell. On Thursday night, they easily had punters giving them top marks and asking “How did they do that?” Ejve’s virtual drum solo was less original but expertly executed. In fact, the tight choreography was as impressive as the multi-media wizardry. Every action was in sync with the audio-visuals. Besides an eye-popping bit where they played another banger on laser beams, the highlight was one of their least complex manoeuvres. Using a camera mounted above the stage, they hit the floor to send up (and sideways) acrobatic routines common to modern circus. They even invited audience members on stage to have a crack and discover that they could do this stunt too. This is a show full of iPhone candy that embraces the social media age, and even ramps up modern narcissism. This millennial self-obsession does not distract from the innovative spectacle of this fast-paced show that ricochets from routine to routine, rather it provides thematic glue. I Am Somebody is superb, and superbly suited to The Rechabite’s Hall, which gave the Swedes a standing ovation. Sirqus Alfon would also be a perfect interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest when, not if, Sweden next win it. Before then, plug in. Ready player one? Sirqus Alfon: I Am Somebody runs to February 16.