‘AmaLuna’ – Cirque Du Soleil, The Royal Albert Hall, London 13.01.2017

In September I was handed a birthday card from Jess, and in it was a note to say what would be the first viewing of 2017. In January on Friday the 13th, I will be off to see the Cirque Du Soleil! Excited to say the least it is something that I had always been interested in seeing, having heard so much about it and catching snippets of it on the TV, I couldn’t wait to see what I was in for. So following the blizzard of 2017 the snow didn’t stop me from heading down to London to meet up with Jess and Amy, and after a meal at the Hard Rock Café we headed over to the Royal Albert Hall.

This was my first time setting foot in the Royal Albert Hall, and I was very intrigued to know what was on the inside.  After we got ourselves some drinks, we took our seats, and at first I will be honest that I thought it was bigger, though it was beautiful just as everyone says. We were situated in the stalls, section J, Row 5. Seat 4, and our view was brilliant, but I felt that anywhere you sat in this hall would have been good, as the show itself was situated in the round so no one could miss a thing, but just get a different point of view at times. Also what was impressive was each chair is a swivel, so you can move yourself sideways to when others in your row take you seats to save you jumping up all the time! Its a stunning venue and knowing that all seats are pretty good seats I’m excited for my return in March to see Russell Howard!

Now onto the show, Cirque Du Soleil was founded in 1982 and since then have produced spectacular shows throughout the years, combining, many talents from the acrobatic side, to music, and story telling. They have performed at many venues, and had many shows that have toured the world. What’s so unique about Cirque is that its not like every other circus show, but along with the jaw dropping acts a story is told. Tonight’s viewing was called ‘Amaluna’ and at first the story was unclear to me, I knew they were on an tropical island and the main lady had 3 daughters and surrounding them were animals, including a pet lizard, sounds weird at first right but then after a storm was created (through an amazing aerial strap act) and a group of men washed up on sure, and one man Romeo immediately fell for one of the daughters that something clicked…it had some form of Shakespeare. When we had an interval I grabbed the chance to look at the programme and then discovered that it was the Tempest, as the lady god of the Island was named Prospero, and the daughter Miranda, then it all made clear. However it wasn’t just the Tempest that was the influence to this show, the Guide and Founder Guy Lailberte wished to show the power of women in the show to, and combined this with the Tempest, Greek Mythology and Mozarts ‘The Magic Flute.’ Director Diane Paulus also agreed to Guys aim…

‘There were two things I knew when I wanted to tirect for Cirque du Soleil – That the show would be in the Big Top, and that it should be homage to women…it also meant creating a story that features women character, and here I turned to sources of inspiration from Greek mythology to Shakespeare…’

Prospero was a protective mother, and reflected the Greek goddess or women, marriage, and fertility, Hera. Miranda reflected the character from The Tempest, a girl who is trying wants to be a women, and falls for Romeo (Alonso in The Tempest). It all started to be clear even the two clowns Mainha and Paulya reflected the characters Stephano, and Trinculo. The Lizard Cali I can only place in some ways Caliban, but yet in this story, he is half human, half lizard and quite protective over Miranda. It was lovely to see a story unfold, and although it was spoken/sung in French it is visibly clear. However at times during some of the songs I felt as though I was watching the Eurovision.  Even the setting which represented the Peacock had a part to play in the story, as according to legend the protective eyes of a peacock’s tail are said to watch over the stages of lives of women.

Now as I said the story was told through many amazing talents, and acts. ones that would have left you open mouthed in awe, and gasping as to what you were seeing, I know I defiantly was! We had Hoop, aerial, uneven bars, Waterbowl, and canes, balancing, pole, teeterboard, juggling, dancing, acrobatics all in one show, and each more amazing than the other. its hard to depict as to what one I loved the most, but I can pick a few favourites, the aerial numbers got me gasping, as what those girls can do is magic, and they have to have so much strength to keep them up in the air, with no safety net, or connection to stop them falling so how they do it is beyond me! Another was the teeterboard demonstrated through the shipwrecked men, doing incredible stunts and flips with just a board. As I said it is hard to go through all the acts, as it can be hard to explain unless you see it, but nevertheless each one had the audience eating out of their hands, and questioning what on earth can they do next.

The only disappointing thing about the show was that even with a announcement at the beginning to tell the audience NOT to take photo’s or videos of the show, they still did, and it was really off putting with the flashing of lights around the hall, as well as seeing the bright screen. The lady next to me especially kept turning on her phone and putting on her snapchat, then choosing filters, and speed as to which she was going to put on her story.  It was really off putting, and I was quite surprised at how bad it was, even with being told to stop, they still carried on. I understand that this is a rare show and one you want to remember but why do that through a screen instead of your eyes! It is sad that some public can’t be respectful, and I hope it wasn’t too distracting to the performers.

I am so happy that I got to see this show, and experience something new and exciting to watch. A great start to 2017 and one to remember. Cirque Du Soleil is playing at the Royal Albert Hall until the 26th February 2017 and tickets can be purchased here. It is a show for all, and a great one for the family, it has defiantly taken my interest to want to see the other shows, and future ones that come our way. Its a show you need to see at least once in your life so don’t miss out! Again thank you Jess for a brilliant birthday present!