When circus performers decide to get primal, they don’t hold back. The creators of Rouge have unleashed their sexiest spectacle yet at Gluttony’s Octagon, and it pushes bodies to limits you didn’t know existed.
Bodies fly, twist, and contort with raw animal energy. The performers prowl the stage like predators hunting prey. Muscles strain against gravity in ways that seem impossible. The animal kingdom theme weaves through most acts, though some performances connect to it mainly through the primal nature of sexuality itself.
DNA Magazine model Tro Griffiths steals the show with more than just his impressive physique. Yes, his near-nudity turns heads, but it’s what he does with his flawless body that drops jaws. Each flip and balance shows years of punishing discipline. And trust me – the closer you sit, the better the view.
Every performer gets their moment to shine. Leather Lungs delivers operatic wailings with notes so impossibly high you’d never expect them from someone with a beard.
One highlight of Primal is the act between real life married couple Kathryn and Paul O’Keefe’s gender-defying act. Kathryn O’Keefe’s feats of strength and flexibility had the audience gasping in disbelief. What she does with Paul while en pointe will leave you with an unforgettable memory.
The creators understand that pushing physical limits generates its own eroticism. A contortionist bends until her spine seems liquid. An aerialist performs splits midair that would cripple mere mortals. Fire dancers tempt flames across bare skin with reckless precision.
What makes Primal special is its perfect balance. The show revels in its own sexiness without apology. Yet behind every provocative pose lies extraordinary physical mastery. The performers know exactly what they’re doing to us. They want us drooling, laughing, and cheering – and we happily oblige.
Costumes reveal exactly enough to make you gasp before disappearing when acts demand complete freedom of movement. Smart lighting turns sweat-slicked muscles into living art.
This show is for the child in you that loved the circus but hasn’t forgotten you’re now an adult and that circus can be sexy. If you want to witness the human body pushed to gorgeous extremes, Primal delivers an unforgettable night. Just remember to breathe.
Primal
The Octagon at Gluttony, Rymill Park, Adelaide
Performance: 4 March 2025 – 8.00 pm
Season continues to 23 March 2025
Information and Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au
Image: The Cast of Primal (supplied)
Review: Daniel G. Taylor