How’s your summer going? Been anywhere nice? We’ve been to India, Italy, the USA and Japan without even leaving the city, thanks to York Theatre Royal’s summer show. Around the World in 80 Days-ish is, unsurprisingly, based on the famous Jules Verne novel (although don’t expect to see any hot air balloons). The fictional tale is interwoven with the real-life story of Nellie Bly, the American journalist who followed in Phileas Fogg’s footsteps: a far more impressive feat than Fogg’s.
There’s a bright, colourful circus theme to the set, complete with a grassed, cushioned area in front of the stage for anyone who would prefer to lounge on the lawn while they watch the show. After some debate, we stayed in the comfort of our seats, which was a good choice as the performance clocked in at two and a half hours. It’s a big ask for young children to sit for that long, but the acrobatics and circus tricks carried our two children through to Nellie and Fogg’s triumphant finish. We took a 9 and 11 year-old, and felt that they were about the right age to understand the plot and appreciate the entertainment.
The cast is small but energetic, masterfully combining physical comedy, dance and a dose of historic storytelling into a thoroughly enjoyable carnival of a show. With love, intrigue, competition, aerial tricks and even elephants on the agenda, what’s not to love?
Around the World in 80 Days-ish runs until 3rd August 2024. Family tickets are available for all performances, and the theatre is running a 1 hour pre-show circus school for 5-11-year-olds, so your child can learn all the tricks of the circus trade for just £6.
