Cirque du Soleil’s Latest Production is a Stunning Mix of Spectacle and Fantasy
Corteo, one of Cirque du Soleil’s most enchanting productions, is set to open at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall in January 2025. A wholly unique production with a stage that splits the venue into two halves, the show first premiered in Montreal in April 2005 and has since amazed over 11 million spectators, in 22 countries, on four continents. Corteo will be presented at the Royal Albert Hall from 9th January.
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown Mauro. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy, and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
Mauro’s dreamlike imagination pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.
In a Cirque du Soleil first, the stage is central in the arena and divides the venue into two, with each half of the audience facing the other half, giving a unique perspective not only of the show but also a performer’s eye view of the audience. Corteo is also the heaviest show that Cirque du Soleil has brought to the Royal Albert Hall, suspending a massive 67 tonnes from the grid (equal to the weight of 11 elephants hanging from the ceiling).
Cirque du Soleil started its much-loved annual residency at the Royal Albert Hall in 1996, and is now a staple of the entertainment calendar in London, as the famous venue becomes a permanent big top for over two months each year.
Corteo will open at the Royal Albert Hall on 9th January and must close on 2nd March 2025. Tickets are available to purchase now via the Cirque du Soleil website via cirquedusoleil.com.
