Under the guidance of its founder Guy Laliberte, a humble ensemble of street performers in Baie-Saint-Paul, Canada, consisting of only 20 performers, then known as ‘Le Club des talons hauts’ (The High Heels Club) gradually gained a reputation for intriguing and feeding the imagination. Eventually, it became known as Cirque du Soleil and has now grown to become a major attraction around the world.
Today it has 4,000 employees, which include 1,300 performance artists from more than 50 different countries. In the past 36 years, Cirque du Soleil has delighted more than 180 million spectators in over 400 cities in no less than sixty countries on six continents. So I feel confident in saying that there would be few people on the planet who have not have heard of this the eccentric Canadian circus
The latest offering from ‘le cirque de l’incroyable’ is KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities.
Set in a time that is reminiscent of the latter part of the nineteenth century, we cannot help but be captivated by each consecutive performer as they challenge our perception of reality. We are consistently intrigued and astounded in a way that only the magic of Cirque du Soleil can conjure up. We are willingly enchanted as we experience the alternative world of the KURIOS.
This thrilling production is the 35th from the Cirque since 1984. Written and directed by Michel Laprise, it is a non-stop fantasy extravaganza which transports the audience into an imaginary steampunk world where a vast array of wonderfully weird characters perform to an infectious soundtrack of energetic gypsy jazz and electro swing.
Consisting of a cast of 47 world-class gymnasts, acrobats, contortionists, hand-puppeteers, yo-yo wizards, clowns, actors, and musicians from 17 different countries, this is truly another sensory treat for the whole family.
Allowing ourselves to be guided by a scientist – The Seeker, we are taken on a journey to a place where the wonders of our imagination, knows no boundaries. Convinced that inside his curio cabinet exists a hidden world where our craziest ideas and grandest dreams reside, the Seeker introduces us to a variety of otherworldly characters.
Our senses of sight and sound are constantly excited by the ‘imagination of the fantastic’ One by one an outrageous assortment of delightful characters turn our world upsidedown allowing us to believe that the amazing and incredible are truly possible in the world of Kurios
Characters such as Klara – ‘The Telegraph of the Invisible’ ( Kazuha Ikeda, from Japan) symbolises our obsession with telecommunications during the golden age of the railroad when the telegraph and the gramophone were invented. Amazingly she can receive alpha waves by turning on her heels and pointing her antenna-loop skirt in various directions.
There is also Mr Microcosmos – The Leader (Mathieu Hubener, from France) of the group who represents technological progress. Described as a microcosm running on his own steam and travelling in his own self-contained, self-subsisting ecosystem, he evokes the steam train, massive building structures, the Eiffel Tower, and the Grand Palais.
After an overwhelmingly successful run in Brisbane and Sydney this colourful spectacle premiers on March 12th under the iconic grey and white Big Top at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse. The season has recently been extended to May 10th which includes the Easter and the school holidays It will then move to Adelaide Showground May 29th, 2020 – June 7th, and then onto Perth, Claremont Showgrounds July 15th, 2020 – August 2nd.
Bookings available at www.cirquedusoleil/kurios
CLICK the link below for a preview of Kurios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXSpuKlWeVs
