Review from: Bradford Alhambra; 14th October, 2025
As part of Bradford’s big celebrations as City of Culture for 2025, a spectacular set of shows have been brought to the city. One of these many such performances is the new Cirque Éloize show, iD Reloaded. Billed as a ‘high energy blend of circus art and urban dance’, this Quebec troupe bring a refreshed version of the original show iD around the UK for an autumn tour*.
The stage set up is impressive and must be noted as one of the stars of the show: a huge scaffold tower dominates the stage, with clever entrance/exit points, climbing sections and lighting design built into its every frame. This – paired with projection screen backgrounds, moveable scaffold sections and brilliant costumes – prove this show has great taste and effort to give in areas where many other circuses are aiming for ‘minimalistic’. It’s brilliant and refreshing to see creativity flow through every element of the show.
The opening act of urban dance and Chinese pole kick things off to a fun start: there are some great crowd pleasing drops, jumps from the scaffold backdrop to the pole, and a good mix of b-boy style finishes to sequences. This opening section also helps establish a loose story concept of two rival gangs and forbidden romance between two of its members. Already a familiar story arc in circus troupe shows these days, this one-group-versus-another shtick isn’t used in any unique or noteworthy way and, for the majority of the show, neither is the love story.
We are, however, treated to an wide selection of skills and acts from this small nine-person cast. Some notable characters provide a strong skill backbone to a show that can sometimes feel like it needs a boost of adrenaline. Straps, bike, juggling and aerial hoop numbers all prove their performers are top of the game, with Trevor Bodogh’s trial bike act and JP Deltell’s juggling act especially well designed within the themes and urban-style of the show.
There are odd moments, such as a chair balancing section where the always obvious shaped balance chairs really kill the “we’re in an urban back street” vibe. And a lack-lustre trampoline finale that’s sure to have the kids jumping in their seats and clapping along but would leave anyone who’s seen a trampoline act before wondering when it was going to step up.
Overall this circus show is well worth a watch, with a great mix of ground and aerial skills, adding in acrobatics – which should be noted as a real treat to see in a theatre where so many troupes now specialise in one area. The show’s transitions from act to act should also be noted as smooth, well delivered and thought out; they keep the pace high and flowing. This show never feels slow or like an act overstays their welcome. Cirque Éloize have certainly packed in quantity without sacrificing on the quality.
*For more details on this evolution, see our specially commissioned programme essay here.
