Returning after its acclaimed debut 30 years ago, fan favourite Alegria tells a tale of the old and new order at war – as the future generations battle for dominance and a world more reflective of their needs. Where spectacle meets a call to action, the Royal Albert Hall once again grips the auditorium with a compelling snippet of escapism brimming with hope.
Marking a 17 year journey so far, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo, meaning a solemn procession, especially a funeral in Italian, makes a welcome return. Known typically for staging their productions at the Royal Albert Hall, the production will call the O2 home from the 13th to 17th July, bringing with them their trademark fusion of acrobatics and spectacle. Sadly forced to close in 2020 in response to the pandemic, Corteo up until that point had been enjoyed by over 9 million fans across 20 countries and 4 continents, this a testament to the show’s popularity. Working to ensure the tour post Covid runs smoothly, President of Cirque du Soleil’s Touring Shows Division Mike Newquist has seen the company through their toughest period so far, ensuring that their current UK, Ireland and International tour can once again be enjoyed by both loyal fans and newcomers alike. He tells us more about what his role involves, how the company have responded during and post pandemic and what audiences can expect from the show!
Corteo translates as ‘cortège’, a solemn procession, especially for a funeral in Italian – in what has been a tough time globally in light of the pandemic, a reality sadly quite familiar to many. Initially performed in a smaller venue in Montreal in 2005, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo has gone onto to be enjoyed by millions of theatre fans, having returned for an arena tour in 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall before being prematurely interrupted by the pandemic in 2020, the show currently returns, but at the O2 to mark our current times.
The beauty of planet Earth lies within its complexity. Multiple factors co-dependently fuelling our day to day. Our knowledge of the animal kingdom expands, but will always remain mysterious to humanity, but this is where the magic lies. Cirque du Soleil’s OVO taps into our fascination with the animal kingdom, returning with their latest show at the Royal Albert Hall.
Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil.
Going to the circus is always a joy, an experience that can bring back those happy childhood days when the circus was in town and the whole family would go together. Of course, at the time, animals were still allowed in circuses, and as lovely as it was to watch them, I feel much happier knowing that they are not being exploited for our pleasure and entertainment. Cirque du Soleil, founded in 1984, was in my younger days the lead in creating a contemporary circus, precisely for not using performing animals and for having a character-driven approach in their shows. It was more than just tricks, it was an experience that would feast the eyes and ears and leave you in awe.
