This week the Peacock Theatre welcomes the riotous acrobatic comedy troupe from Australia, Head First with their West End Debut of GODZ. It’s an adult-only show for a very good reason, featuring male nudity, swearing and homoerotic poses. Not one for your maiden aunt!

The show focuses on four notable Greek Gods from mythology. Appollo (Thomas Gotham), Dionysus (Jordan Twartz), Cupid (Liam Dummer) and Hercules (Cal Harris) in a very looses narrative that holds the circus acts together and allows some light hearted playfulness.

The acting is deliberately exaggerated, with each performer engaging directly with the audience, inviting them to whoop, ogle and cat call. Additionally, there are scenes where performers act as if they don’t know what they are doing although the entire performance is meticulously choreographed.

There is no doubt that the Head First Acrobats are highly talented performers, each having their chance to shine. Cal Harris whose death-defying climb into the heavens on a rickety tower of chairs was as terrifying as it was impressive. Twartz performs with a diabolo, making it look like a goblet is floating in the air. Apollo who makes spinning on his head while flying into the air look effortless! Hercules with his god-like strength has the task of whipping out candles (although they turn out to be battery operated) and later returns to do some balancing with a ladder.

The performance features plenty of slapstick comedy. In one particularly notable scene, Hercules is seen cleaning statues that turn out to be the other three performers completely naked and using golden plates to cover themselves.

There is also another sacrilegious scene that takes place in Christian Hell, home of “the drug-takers, fornicators and The Killers,” with most of the performers dressed as nuns, with several hilarious religious references. 

Head First Acrobats have a remarkable ability to captivate an audience. Every moment is filled with hilarious physical comedy, death-defying tricks all backed by a great soundtrack.

4 stars

GODZ showing at Peacock Theatre June 11th – 14th June 2025

Tickets available at the link below

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Cast

Jordan Twartz                 Dionysus (God of Wine)

Liam Dummer               Cupid (God of Love)

Thomas Gorham          Apollo, (God of the Sun)

Cal Harris                         Hercules (demi-god)

https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/head-first-acrobats-godz/#book