A LUCKY audience was allowed an hour's adventure in a dreamworld of fantasy and illusion when the circus brought its magical spell to town.

Not the whip-cracking, lion-taming kind of circus, but the rope dangling, magic, illusionary experience dubbed 'new circus' but nonetheless steeped in the ancient traditions of variety, cabaret and music hall performance.

Aurlia's Oratorio is a circus-theatre fusion which brings a back-to-front, topsy-turvy, upside-down world alive, from Aurlia's gradual emergence from her chest of drawers, through surprise after surprise in which even the set came to life and played a part in her adventures. There were shadows in reverse, kites flying girls, puppets watching a person show, a snowy adventure and much more packed in, mixed with aerial acrobatics, dance, music and magic illusions.

Aurlia Thierre is the star of the show, and it's all you'd expect from a performer of her heritage - a grand-daughter of Charlie Chaplin. Her Oratorio was designed and directed by her mother, Victoria Thierre Chaplin, who, with Aurlia's father Jean Baptiste Thierre, created Le Cirque Imaginaire and Le Cirque Invisible, recognised as ground-breaking circus entertainments.

And, between them, with the new show - and with the help of dancer and coat-wrestler extraordinaire Timothy Harling, acres of fabric and lively props - they've come up with a clever, happy, warm and literally charming visual treat for all the family to enjoy. Soak up some cirque therapy wherever you can!

Review by CAROLYN MORRIS