Cirque de Soleil: Luzia

Eagle Farm, Brisbane 

September 25th-November 10th, 2024

 

Dr Gemma Regan

 

If you have ever dreamed of visiting a circus under the big top, Cirque de Soleil is the one to see, known as the best contemporary circus in the world. It was founded in 1984 by two street performers Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix in Montreal, Canada and has grown to epic proportions and won numerous awards due to the large budgets and imaginative theatrical shows. Luzia is their 38th production, Spanish for light rain: light (Luz) and rain (Lluvia). 

 

The incredible rainwater curtain is the central feature of the Mexican-styled theme exploring the culture, history, and mythology of Mexico. It is unique and an awesome sight to behold creating intricate patterns and pictures with fish, whales and trees using falling raindrops from 6,000 litres of recycled water draining into 94,657 holes in the specially designed floor. Through which the water drains into a 3,500-litre basin hidden underneath.

 

The patterns are created 14 meters above the stage from 174 individually controlled nozzles programmed to open and close up to 200 times per second creating the patterns and pictures of Mexican painter Francisco Toledo.

 

Cirque de Soleil's Big Top is another engineering feat at 19 meters high and 51 meters in diameter taking eight days and 550 pegs to pitch to withstand winds of up to 120 km/h! The 2000kg Great Disk is another main feature which is a giant light box that depicts either the Aztec calendar, the sun or the moon.

 

Forty-five acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians along with a crew of 100 create the 2-hour-long spectacle accompanied by live Spanish melodies with brass and percussion and even a Flugelhorn! 

 

Nearly a thousand costumes and 140 pairs of shoes are worn in each performance including animal puppet recreations with crocodiles, swordfish, beautiful hummingbirds and an eerily life-like giant Cucaracha (cockroach).

 

Eric Koller from the Netherlands is the main host as the Traveller using mime and his clowning tricks to raucous effect after first parachuting into the big top to turn a giant key and unleash the magical world of Luzia and the amazing feats of skill and daring with hoop diving hummingbirds flitting in and out of tiny rings of only 75cm using two giant treadmills powered by 28 car batteries.

 

Jérome Sordillon is the Aerial Straps artist who twists and turns high in the tent whilst being followed by a life-sized jaguar puppet. Performers balance on masts and poles or swing high into the air making the audience gasp.

 

Even the incredible football skills of footballer Abou Traore, an African who played professional football for Saint Germain until injuring his hip now has a new career in LUZIA as a soccer dancer along with footballer Emmi Björn. Their ball skills astound as they breakdance whilst keeping a soccer ball spinning in the air.

 

Helena Merten from the Gold Coast wanted to join Cirque du Soleil at the age of seven after seeing the Cirque du Soleil show QUIDAM. After becoming the Australian Tumbling Champion, she is now performing in the hoops, swings and on the acrobatic pole in her home state.

 

Luzia is an unforgettable sight to behold and bursting with family fun with the Traveller interacting comically with the audience to entertain and surprise all under a giant Big Top. Over 100 million people have seen a Cirque de Soleil show worldwide, make sure you are one of them!