Circus In Style: Cirque Du Soleil At Royal Albert Hall

Ruth Hargreaves
By Ruth Hargreaves Last edited 122 months ago
Circus In Style: Cirque Du Soleil At Royal Albert Hall
Photo: Matt Beard and Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
Photo: Matt Beard and Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
Photo: Al Seib. Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
Photo: Al Seib. Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
GILLES STE-CROIX, FRANCO DRAGONE, LUC LAFORTUNE, DOMINIQUE LEMIEUX, BENOIT JUTRAS, DEBRA BROWN, MICHEL CRETE, FRANCOIS BERGERON,
Photo: Matt Beard and Costumes Dominique Lemieux
GILLES STE-CROIX, FRANCO DRAGONE, LUC LAFORTUNE, DOMINIQUE LEMIEUX, BENOIT JUTRAS, DEBRA BROWN, MICHEL CRETE, FRANCOIS BERGERON,
Photo: Matt Beard and Costumes Dominique Lemieux
GILLES STE-CROIX, FRANCO DRAGONE, LUC LAFORTUNE, DOMINIQUE LEMIEUX, BENOIT JUTRAS, DEBRA BROWN, MICHEL CRETE, FRANCOIS BERGERON,
Photo: Matt Beard and Costumes Dominique Lemieux
Photo: Al Seib. Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
Photo: Al Seib. Costumes Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil

Roll up roll up, ladies and gents. We have a real treat for you this evening. Allllll the way from Canada, we present to you the daring, the dastardly, the downright LOOPY …. Ciiirrrrrrque du Soleeeeeeiil!

That’s right, Cirque are back in London bringing their darker production, Quidam (pronounced key-dam), to the Royal Albert Hall. Anyone with a passing knowledge of Cirque will be aware that the Canadian company are famed for their highly visual, surrealist shows but with Quidam, a Latin word meaning “a nameless passerby”, the Canadian company makes a triumphant return to…the circus.

Sure, there’s a story (a young girl whose uninterested parents prompt her to enter a world where her magical daydreams become reality), but really, who goes to Cirque for the story? No, we go for the leaping, balancing, flying, throwing, hanging, swinging, all-round physical wonderment.

If you’re after never-before-seen acts concocted from the minds of the Cirque powers that be then you may leave disappointed as Quidam has a much more traditional feel than some of their other shows. We’re treated to circus favourites such as the German Wheel, the diabolo, aerial silk contortions, aerial hoops, juggling, hand balancing and even skipping ropes. But traditional is not to be confused with ordinary, because everything that Cirque does here is extraordinary. Quidam is not quotidian.

The silk and rope aerial segments are stunning, but the real highlights are the diabolo (where your mind tries to tell you that what you’re seeing isn’t possible), the statue section (a beautifully orchestrated showcase of human strength and balance) and the Spanish Web, where we’re treated to the “no, they can’t do that. It’s not possible. Oh my gosh they’re going for it! She’s going to jump! AAAARRGGHHH!" crescendo moment which defines Cirque performances.

For circus lovers who want entirely new acts, Quidam might not be for you. But for circus lovers who want to see the golden oldies done with paramount precision, beauty and imagination, all to the backing of perfectly suited live music, then you will leave open-mouth and slightly dribbling in awe like the rest of us.

Quidam is at the Royal Albert Hall until 16 February 2014. Tickets cost between £28-£89.20+bf with concessions available and can be booked online or via the box office on 0845 401 5045. Londonist saw this performance on a complimentary review ticket.

Last Updated 08 January 2014