Oh so… Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities – Cirque du Soleil, Royal Albert Hall, London. 04.02.23

For years I’ve been saying I want to go to see Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall, but finding the funds and company just after Christmas is always a bit tricky. So, when some of the ladies from my aerial hoop class asked if I wanted to go this year, I was the first to sign-up.

Be prepared for strange, the ‘story’ of Kurios goes as follows: In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams lie waiting. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humour in an attempt to ignite the Seeker’s imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes. What if by engaging our imagination and opening our minds we could unlock the door to a world of wonders?

It might be strange but it’s also spectacular. Even before the show starts, the atmosphere is an excited one. Some of the characters are wandering around on stage and interacting with the audience members near the front. In the opening scene, we are introduced to our characters as they pop out of the beautifully designed train – kudos to Stéphane Roy and Philippe Guillotel for the incredibly intricate set and costume design.

I’ve been doing aerial hoop for a number of years, and it’s always satisfying when you go to the circus to think ‘hey, I could do that move!’ But I have never thought that with Cirque du Soleil. They truly are in a league of their own, and the cast of Kurios are no exception.

Is it even possible for me to pick a favourite part or cast member? I’m not sure it is with such rampant talent on display. Louis-Philippe Jodoin, who is among the first of the performers to be whisked into the air where he juggles as easily as if he was on solid ground, definitely deserves to be acknowledged, particularly because he doesn’t feature in my very expensive programme (£20!).

The second half of Act One is where they really start to ramp things up. Out come the contortionists, bending round each other into shapes that the majority of us couldn’t even conceive of getting out bodies into. Next comes an upside-down dinner party. Andrii Bondarenko had us all on the edge of our seats as he balanced on his with his hands; a great stack of chairs (at all angles) stretching up towards the ceiling. This was followed by another balancing act; James Gonzalez Correa’s rola bola. My heart was in my mouth as he built a tottering tower out of cylinders and planks on top of a swinging trapeze platform that was then raised high into the air. Surely he wouldn’t let go of the cables?! But this is Cirque du Soleil, so of course he did.

We went into the interval wondering how on earth they could top what we had already seen. Out comes the acro net, and a group of underwater creatures start propelling themselves around the stage and to incredible heights. In the final scene a group dressed as beachgoers/swimmers perform perfectly synchronised acrobatics, ending with a four person pyramid that made the whole audience gasp. There were too many performers in these two acts to name them all here, but every single one of them came with high energy, executing every move with precision and professionalism.

There is an extensive wider cast supporting the acrobats and circus performers in Kurios. They unassumingly appear and pull it all together, creating the dreamland that the Seeker inhabits. Sophie Guay, the street singer, has an enchanting (almost haunting) voice, like a lullaby that follows us through the show. Rima Hadchiti, who plays the character of Mini Lili, has incredible stage presence.

It was a seamless show. The thing I love most about Cirque du Soleil is how it makes the impossible possible. Each time I’ve been lucky enough to see a performance, it has been completely magical, and Kurios was no exception. Being in the Royal Albert Hall makes it that much more special.

Kurios is now touring in Europe. Details can be found here. Cirque du Soleil return to the Royal Albert Hall annually, so watch this space!