Review: Mythical Creatures

**Picture:** Some of the members of the cast and creative team, before the magic began *Image credit: Creative Futures Photography*

Rachel Riggall (producer, performer, and creative director) has created another memorable Anywhere Festival production, that will entrance audiences of any age. Euphoric Flow’s Mythical Creatures is an original, otherworldly, and enthralling show that combines aerial, fire, and acro to bring mythical beings to ‘life.’ Think powerful dragons, shimmering mermaids, ethereal fairies, talking flowers, impish elves, an aerial phoenix, a flying monkey, and more.

Mythical Creatures cleverly weaves together the work of several talented performers to create a reminder of the many creatures that live on in our imagination, in fables, in science fiction, and fantasy. It is a great idea to have Dominic Bradley as our host for the evening, reading from the ‘book’ of fables to provide introductions to each of the characters, while also making the guests feel welcome, and moving the audience into each of the new spaces.

The aerial work by Rachel (Fairy, Fire Fairy, & Mermaid) Pixie Spins (Phoenix & Dragon) and Tanya Smith (Forest Nymph/Fairy and Mermaid) is excellent—including Rachel’s ethereal silks Fairy, Tanya’s impressive lyra Nymph, and Pixie’s lyrical and occasionally fierce Phoenix. Josie Illumnia (Medusa, Flying Monkey, & Dragon) also has several moments in the spotlight that include an impressive, and very cheeky, monkey. Josie’s work on the pole is a powerful demonstration of strength and agility, with great costuming and a very amusing ‘exit eating a banana.’

The introduction to the second enchanted space includes a careful reminder of remaining of the importance of respecting the use of real flame ‘before we awake the dragon.’ It is always impressive to watch any fire ‘eating’, breathing, twirling and more—not only for the skill of the performer, but also for the careful way in which the risks are managed and how the safety of the performers and audience is paramount. Rachel Riggall’s Fire Fairy is a charming and elegant part of the ‘fire’ space/garden, as is the flow artistry and use of the LED batons. But it’s always fire-eating, fire-breathing and fire-twirling that are my personal highlights of any show that features fire, air, and water. Audiences are fortunate that Kinga Józsa is a key member of the show, as Kinga’s Dragon is a powerful and dramatic demonstration of fire- breathing - twirling and -eating, as captured in some of these equally impressive photos.

The staging of the final ‘mermaid cove,’ as a shifting tableau that includes many of the performers, is a great way to conclude any time with so many mythical creatures—complete with the creation of some very large bubbles, and the use of a large water tank. I know of many under-10s would love to see the work of Teneille Douglas, who is not only a capable stilt walker (I mean, Talking Flower) but is also a talented international mermaid performer. Teneille’s radiant Mermaid performance is unforgettable, and imagine that it always holds the full attention of the younger members of any audience.

Superordinary is an excellent, versatile and spacious reclaimed urban venue that is a great choice for Euphoric Flow’s latest Anywhere Festival show. I loved their first Anywhere Festival show, the 2024 A Journey to Euphoria, held in the Windsor Enchanted Enterprises’ gardens. It is impressive to see how the team continues to travel forward by creating new work that showcases circus, acro, fire, and water skills—and I congratulate them on the sensible decision to move undercover at Superordinary, as it has been a mite damp in Brisbane this month. The larger space also allows for the use of three different performance areas, accommodating the equipment and staging for the different aspects of this ambitious show.

Mythical Creatures draws on a large team of performing artists and creatives. Some of the creatures in the show are new to me, which makes their performances all the more enjoyable. Piper Mae’s quiet Mushroom guardian is a novel way in which to present the skills of a talented hula artist; a great costume and definitely a very magic and humourous mushroom number. The evocative soundtrack was well-chosen, and I understand includes new works by two composers, Lisa Finkel and Love Wanto—and congratulations to Tommy Productions for their lighting/sound design across the different spaces. The show also includes the joyful acro and performance work of younger artists, Charlotte Fung (stilting-walking Talking Flower, Fairy and Mermaid), as well as Tiarna Douglas and Veronika Watson, who were well cast as fairies, impish forest elves and mermaids. It was also a nice to touch involve younger audience members, inviting them to step forward to have their photos taken with the performers. I was lucky enough to be at a show that had very young ‘dragon’ in the audience, which just added to the fun.

Unfortunately, the short 2026 Anywhere Festival run of Mythical Creatures ends this week. If you miss it this time, make sure you follow Euphoric Flow and Anywhere Festival for future productions.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture**: Magical. *Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography*

Audience information: Mythical Creatures at Superordinary, 175 MacArthur Ave, Hamilton (19-21 May 2026). Tickets $35-45. PG (suggest 5+). Some strobe lighting. Seating available, but audiences are advised to be aware that there are three performances spaces, where audiences are guided to move into each new area during the show as part of the experience. Fire-twirling, fire-eating and use of flames under the supervision of a fire safety office, where audience members are required to remain in a designated seating area. Doors open one hour before the show, and food and drink are available for purchase. 80 minutes. Presented by Euphoric Flow

The reviewer attended the 19 May 2026 opening night.

Geoff Lawrence