“Welcome to The Ruckus!”: Arielle Lauzon on Circus, Chaos and Queer Joy

A riotous blend of circus, comedy, chaos and punk spirit, The Ruckus – one of the circus shows hosted by Revel Puck at this year’s Brighton Fringe  is not your average cabaret. Hosted by the gloriously unfiltered Nancy - played by the magnetic acrobat performer Arielle Lauzon - this joyful circus spectacle smashes stereotypes, celebrates queer and female strength, and invites audiences to laugh, gasp, and dance along the way. We caught up with Arielle to chat about empowering performances, collaborative creativity, and why live circus still matters in a world of endless scrolling.

What can you tell us about the show?

The Ruckus is a cabaret hosted by the iconic and chaotic Nancy. She’s just moved to a new city and wants to invite everyone to the Little Puck to meet new people and hopefully make new friends. But she didn’t come alone. Her friends Fiona, Emily, Kas and Becky have accompanied her to host this housewarming event. The Ruckus is a charming, chaotic and groovy circus cabaret with surprising new acts and that make your heart stop as performers flirt with the edges of the stage and bounce off trampolines. For an hour, this tight-knit group of audacious and funny acrobats come together to put on a joyous show that will make you feel closer to home and getting up to have a boogie.

The Ruckus celebrates female and non-binary strength through circus – how does it feel to represent this on stage?

So empowering! There is no lack in world class women and non-binary performers, and we want to make sure we are representing the communities we play for. From being inspired by seeing one woman on stage growing up, to now sharing the stage with mainly women and non-binary performers is “pinch me” worthy and I know we are inspiring a new generation of people to follow their dreams.

How does The Ruckus challenge traditional circus tropes?

As a circus show, we do adhere to the expectations of what people generally think of the circus in terms of high acrobatic skills, high risk, wow factor quality performances. The way it challenges tradition is by how we deliver these expectations with innovative disciplines, bending gender stereotypes and highlighting the uniqueness and attitude of each performer.

Do you think comedy is a powerful tool for expression in circus?

Not only in circus, but in everyday life. There is a fine line between comedy and tragedy, and being able to let everyone laugh and not take ourselves too seriously allows for a huge emotional release. Comedy in circus gives us a break from the intensity of the risks taking place and is also a light hearted way to connect with the public.

There’s a strong theme of collaboration in the show. How does that manifest during the creative process?

We have a collaborative approach during creation where we bounce off from initial ideas, respond to interpretations, try out different music and open the floor to feedback between artists.

The Ruckus is described as inclusive and immersive – how do you foster that environment for audiences?

We’d have to try really hard to make it not immersive being that close to the audience. We get such a good feel of the public the moment they step in and welcoming them in immediately sets the relationship: we’re in this together.

In a now very digital world, why do you think live circus still resonates so strongly?

Experiencing something live stays with you. I remember being on stage and hearing someone in the audience say “can we press pause”? Which was funny but also shocking to think that’s some younger generations have a distorted perspective on live interactions. But what resonates more to humans than human connection? Circus and other live art are memorable experiences because they make you feel something and stimulate all your senses: the smell of the popcorn, the velvet curtains you push to enter the big top, the music you hear, the sight of a spinning acrobat.

What does punk mean to you in the context of The Ruckus?

It’s a very DIY style show, with so much love and freedom and fun involved – all the vibes that I would associate with “punk!”. 

The Ruckus is at Revel Puck’s Circus Yard as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival from 16th May – 1st June. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/ruckus/