A Cirque du Soleil production is inimitable and the beauty, grace and strength of the performers is unbelievable.
Recently opened in Brisbane, Totem is one of Cirque Du Soleil’s most intimate shows and has been performed more than 1,600 times across the world. The cast are Olympic-level athletes, many who have been training for a role like this since they were five-years old.
Image © Callum DorwardThe show is housed in the iconic yellow-and-blue Big Top, which becomes almost like a temporary home to all performers and crew for the duration of the season, as there is extensive warm-up, training and preparation completed behind the curtain before each show.
Image © Callum DorwardAs we wandered behind the stages, we walked past dressing rooms, oversized couches, the wardrobe department and an area dedicated to the health team (which includes two physiotherapists, a massage therapist and a pilates trainer). Each performer is contracted to appear in up-to-ten shows per week, and at this elite level, this means their bodies are constantly under stress and need to carefully looked after.
Click here for more photos from the Behind The Seams tour.
The sets look elaborate and are visually appealing, but as the show travels with approximately 85 containers full of equipment, the production team is always looking for ways to downsize and streamline. A great example of this was pointed out - the giant reeds that flank the stage are actually inflatable and after the season is completed, are deflated and packed down into a small, storage container.
The wardrobe department was compact and overflowing with sequinned garments and lycra. Every single costume worn is washed after each show and we watched as workers in the wardrobe department made minor adjustments and repairs to various outfits.
Image © Callum DorwardMasks were laid out to air dry, shoes were being touched up with spray paint and a seamstress was sewing and glueing parts of an item back together. There is also a back-up of each costume and when the costumes were originally created, they were made using fabrics that were hand dyed. Not only for originality but because if the show continues touring for years and years, certain store-bought fabrics may not be able to be found again. This is such a perfect example of the level of foresight and attention to detail that is synonymous with any Cirque performance.
Image © Callum DorwardThere was also a huge, metal chest of drawers that was filled to overflowing with all manner of make-up. The official make-up provider is MAC Cosmetics and each performer is responsible for doing their own make-up each night before the performance. Apparently it usually takes between 1-1.5 hours to complete every single show.
We watched a group of acrobatics training on the main stage, hurtling through the air, hanging off high rings and generally looking ridiculously toned and flexible. Even though it was obvious they were relaxed and slowly warming up their bodies, the level of precision was astounding and the movements of their bodies was mesmerising. If this is the team off duty, it is easy to imagine how phenomenal they would look in costume, under lights and flying through the air.
Cirque du Soleil’s Totem plays at the Big Top, Hamilton Northshore until Sunday May 24. Totem then heads to Adelaide (opens 11 June) and Perth (opens 31 July).
