Cirque du Soleil: Luzia at the Royal Albert Hall

The latest colourful theatrics from Canadian contemporary circus company Cirque du Soleil are unveiled at The Royal Albert Hall in their 38^th production, Luzia, for the start of its European tour. Fusing the Spanish words for light and rain into the title, the show blends these core elements with an eclectic cast of prestigious performers and impassioned creators to reimagine the cultures and grandeur of Mexico.

A gentle strum from a Spanish guitar and a huge luminous moon-like disc are the backdrop to start this sensual journey through Aztec history. A clown then plummets from the sky after his parachute fails to open, relying on a single umbrella to bring him safely to his feet. His empty water bottle and his journey to fill it bring us through Mayan landscapes of caves, cenotes, an incredible floor to ceiling waterfall and a menagerie of exotic puppetry animals. His audience interaction and clowning bring a gentle humour to the show and help keep the story moving as we are absorbed in a tremendously vibrant sensory overload.

For those familiar with the setup of Cirque, the melange of puppetry, clowning and acrobatics are really nothing new. and if the set feels a little dated then this show thankfully peaks with technical prowess. The acrobatics are simply breathtaking, in particular from performer Naomi Zimmerman, who is tossed between three male performers, swooping and sweeping across the set with the stiffened grace of a jewellery box ballerina, whilst Russian contortionist Aleksei Goloborodko and giant Cyr wheel dancers Nora Zoller and Rosa Tyyska draw plenty of gasps and hand-over-mouth disbelief from the wide-eyed spectators.

Luzia is gaudy, it’s fun and it’s perfect for a family outing. Fast-paced enough to keep the children from getting bored, this latest colourful explosion from the creators of Cirque du Soleil is a blend of Lion King, broadway-style set design with high octane acrobatics. It’s a chance to escape to the sunnier climes of Mexico for a couple of hours – and who doesn’t want that in dreary old January!

Ezelle Alblas
Photo: Matt Beard

Cirque du Soleil: Luzia is at the Royal Albert Hall from 12^th January until 1^st March 2020. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.