Roll up, roll up! The circus is coming to town.
A big top decorated in signature bright blue and yellow swirls will soon dominate the skylines of Australia. Cirque du Soleil’s Grand Chapiteau – a beacon worldwide for seekers of thrills and wonder – will rise in November, heralding the arrival of ‘KOOZA’ to our shores.
To the uninitiated, Cirque may well seem just another travelling circus parading out the same old circus acts, however attending a Cirque show - any Cirque show – is a sensory extravaganza brimming with sights and sounds. Artistic Director, Gracie Valdez, summarises the enduring appeal of Cirque: “We are very traditional. We don’t have big automations. We have beautiful lighting, really elegant music and the human form. We’re simplistic but beautiful. It’s classic.”
Gracie ValdezTouted as a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, ‘KOOZA’ is a show that proudly revisits old circus traditions. Forget sawdust, cracking whips and feather bedecked ponies. ‘KOOZA’ pays homage to the art of clowning and time-honoured acrobatic feats, perfectly blending whimsy, folly and wonderment. Describing the show, Gracie says, “We have a lot of traditional clowning, a lot of silliness, and there’s some death-defying acts that are really high skill, high level acrobatic numbers that are the best in the world.”
From the opening act, ‘KOOZA’ transports audiences back to the circus acts of yesteryear, as performers stack themselves into staggering human pyramid formations while others are propelled across the stage like unleashed jack-in-the-boxes. “The entire opening of the show is really sentimental,” Gracie says. “The artists are joyful, and it shows just a bit of what you’re going to see for the rest of the show.”
Image © Matt BeardCirque is renowned for feats of human performance, and 'KOOZA' doesn’t disappoint. Belief will be suspended as tightrope walkers teeter overhead on quivering ropes. Teams of contortionists will twist and intertwine, unicyclists will career around the stage and artists will be flung skyward from a Teeterboard. “They [the audience] will see a lot of things that they’ve never seen before,” Gracie says.
The Wheel of Death, an act that will have the audience gasping, whooping and quite possibly watching through their fingers, is testament to the skill, commitment and fearlessness of the 50 artists behind ‘KOOZA’. The artists - some whom have been in circus their entire lives - practice tirelessly every day, and spend two hours before each show applying their own makeup. “They’re so passionate and they’re so dedicated. They’re grounded and they train a lot.”
Image © Matt BeardIf the death defying feats don’t get your heart racing, the ‘KOOZA’ soundtrack will. Cirque are masters at making the audience’s emotions soar, swell and quake through the live music that accompanies the majority of their shows, and ‘KOOZA’ is no exception. “Music plays a gigantic part in the show,” Gracie explains. “They [the band] do a mix between Indian and pop and there’s traditional rock and hard rock. There’s also a really cool drum solo that comes in the middle of the show that is new and interesting to Cirque.”
Costume plays a major role in all Cirque productions, and with more than 175 costumes, ‘KOOZA’ is sure to be a feast for the eyes. One costume that may escape the audience’s notice is that of Heimloss, Gracie’s favourite character. “He lives under the stage and pops up from time to time,” she explains. “He’s my favourite because people barely notice him. It’s such a quirky part of our circus, but it’s such a big part of our show. He’s cool.”
Image © Matt BeardSo come one, come all to ‘KOOZA’: a show that promises to enthral, delight and mystify the mind.
Cirque Du Soleil - Kooza Tour Dates
25 August-6 November – The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter (Sydney)24 November-18 December – Skygate (Brisbane)
20 January-12 February – Flemington Racecourse (Melbourne)
13 April-7 May – Belmont Park Racecourse (Perth)
