Review: La Clique, Fringe 2025

La Clique veteran Birdy went along to The Famous Spiegeltent at St Andrews Square to check out this wonderful 21st birthday Fringe show!

What can I say, it’s been 21 years of beloved Fringe institution La Clique and… I’ve been attending for maybe half of that time now.

For the 21st anniversary show, I didn’t know quite what to expect when I stepped into the 105-year-old Famous Spiegeltent – aside from a mess, going by the plastic sheeting at the front row! Myself and a friend sat in the third row, mainly to avoid the splash zone!

The circus music playing as we entered got us completely in the mood, not only for circus but for some amazing cabaret, and overall Fringe joyfulness – and we weren’t disappointed.

Vibe

The vibe of La Clique is three-fold; smooth, seamless circus and burlesque cabaret, combined with outrageously fun comedy! One moment you’ll be sitting in silence, heart-in-mouth as someone performs an incredible stunt – the next, you’ll be laughing ’til it hurts.

La Clique is quality, premium entertainment that also has some fabulous surprises! So, whether you love circus or cabaret (especially if you love both) with a side of comedy, this show is probably for you.

Performances

We kicked off with La Clique superstar LJ Marles (pictured above) in a bathtub, before doing with sublime aerial work and splashing of the audience. It was a thing to behold! Later, Marles also entranced the audience in red to Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra. Fabulous!

David Pereira’s aerial silk routine felt emotional and utterly mesmerising, but he switches it up later with some shaving foam, proving he can be utterly silly, too (again, glad I didn’t sit in the front row with him ending up on my lap).

A big treat for this year was Ursula Martinez, who was apparently lured out of retirement to do a bit of hilarious cabaret, and to perform her legendary ‘Hanky Panky’ magic striptease – an act made famous over 20 years ago when La Clique was only just starting!

Aurora Kurth was brought the brilliance with her cabaret – combined with comedy when you find out what’s under her dress. And then there’s Masha Terentieva‘s beautiful hotel cart act, pictured above.

La Clique legend Tara Boom once again wowed with her pre-intermission popcorn routine – and when you see the mess, you’ll understand exactly WHY that had to happen before the break – which never fails to be top notch entertainment of the highest degree. Her umbrella routine is also pretty impressive!

Mikael Bres stunned on the Chinese pole, pulling off various stunts with ease and making the whole thing look so so natural. How?!

Double act Daredevil Chicken, aka Anne Goldmann & Jonathan Taylor also made a couple of noteworthy appearances, first with their impressive vaudevillian quick-change routine – which quickly took a hilarious turn – and then their banana bit (no spoilers, but you really have to see it to believe it).

Honestly, although I’ve seen some of these performances before, La Clique is hands-down one of the best shows at the Fringe, and there were some fresh acts (Abracadabra stood out for me) which made it all the better.

Overall

This was an unmissable 21st anniversary Fringe show from La Clique, with seamless performances, high-calibre burlesque and brilliant comedy that had me laughing a lot more than I expected. Lots of nudity, too! This is a show that never fails to disappoint, and it’s easy to see why it’s still going strong after all these years.

An absolutely Fringe favourite, you can’t really go wrong with a ticket to La Clique (maybe just don’t sit in the front row if you don’t want to get splashed/you’re wearing an immaculate dress you’re particularly attached to).