Show reviewed: 11/03/26

Show rating: A thrilling 5 stars!

Head First Acrobats are at the Adelaide Fringe again in 2026 with their award winning show, Elixir Revived. It is a highly entertaining and enjoyable experience where four of the *worst scientists* I’ve ever met do some ‘active participant research’ experimentation by drinking some suspiciously colourful elixirs out of test tubes…I mean at least they wore safety goggles some of the time though are lab coats really effective without clothing under them? This is not a complaint but I mean should a lab coat be that sexy? This is “mad science meets who’s your daddy?!”

Honestly, I am now questioning my life choices as an artist in choosing writing as my medium because they do indeed hold up to the claim of being a dystopian “Cirque du Soleil meets Magic Mike.”

What follows firmly falls into the “Don’t try this at home, kids” category as the performers execute a wide variety of acrobatic and aerial trickery while also engaging in light hearted shenanigans with the audience. Elixir Revived isn’t just a show for the female gaze but also has the cheeky sort of camaraderie of just four guys hanging out during an apocalypse doing what they love (if that involves throwing knives at each other…)

I’ve said this in a few fringe reviews of 2026 now, but this really is the year to see circus and physical theatre acts for remaining duration of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. I found out about Elixir Revived by waiting in line to review other shows at The Vault and it sounded like the audience was having a great time, so I decided I must see this show and it is indeed a must see production. One of my favourite parts of the show was the performance of the aerial straps, which was both beautiful and haunting thanks to the soundtrack and blue ethereal lighting creating an effect reminiscent of cenotes.