HAUS of YOLO struts onto the stage like it owns the place, and for the most part it does. From Aotearoa’s fearless circus renegades, The Dust Palace, this is a high gloss collision of circus, aerials, acrobatics and fashion that thrives on audacity, chaos, and pure physical skill. The performers are exceptional: strong, precise, and wildly charismatic, throwing their bodies into jaw dropping feats with the kind of confidence that dares you to look away. You won’t!

One of the show’s most compelling tricks is its live costume construction, stitched together in real time as bodies fly, balance and contort. It is part fashion show, part circus laboratory, and when it works, it’s thrilling a visual metaphor for identity being built, dismantled and rebuilt before your eyes. The energy is electric, the cast clearly having the time of their lives, and that joy is infectious.

Rather than being open ended or ambiguous, the storyline in HAUS of YOLO comes across as simply silly! The show doesn’t attempt to weave a complex narrative instead, it embraces a playful, almost whimsical approach to storytelling. While the energetic chaos and dazzling skills on stage are impressive, the story itself is light and not meant to be taken seriously, serving more as a backdrop for the spectacle than a meaningful thread. The result is a fun, vibrant display where the narrative takes a back seat to the show’s visual drama and physical feats.

Still, this is circus that prioritises boldness over polish, sensation over sense. HAUS of YOLO is messy, loud, glamorous and gloriously physical. It may not know exactly what it wants to say, but it says it with style, sweat and spectacular strength, and sometimes, that is more than enough.

HAUS of YOLO leans into fashion fuelled circus spectacle, letting jaw‑dropping skill and bold aesthetics lead while the story stays playfully loose.

HAUS of YOLO continues until 22 March at The Paragon at The Garden of Unearthly Delights