Cirque du Soleil: Luzia – A Waking Dream of Mexico at the Royal Albert Hall

Having paused their annual productions at the Royal Albert Hall for the past two years due to a certain pandemic, Cirque du Soleil resurface with a spectacular performance of the bombastic Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico that stunned audiences in early 2020. Bringing together some of the most outstanding acts that the world has to offer, this represents a welcome return to form, never ceasing to amaze in a juxtaposition of spine-tingling acrobatics with stunning visual work.

As the title suggests, this Cirque production is centred around the idea of a sort of Alice in Wonderland-type of venture into a world where lights, costumes and music conjure images of Mexico in the onlookers’ minds. The design – developed by Daniele Finzi Pasca and Patricia Ruel – is pleasing, with fantastic research into Mexican resilience, delivering a beautiful portrayal with a fine-tuned ear to geography and tradition, even when the representation is occasionally more abstract. What matters above all is the feel of it, and in that regard it absolutely succeeds in being whimsical, magical and engaging throughout, distilling an essence of Mexico.

Equally unsurprising is the fact that the main attractions are, as in any circus, the performers and their breathtaking acts. Luzia is surprisingly conservative in its selection, featuring the typical – and astounding – juggler (Cylios Pytlak), the bewildering contortionist (Aleksei Goloborodko) and a whole range of amazing acrobats, but this hardly detracts from the spectacle. They often go beyond the limits of possibility in demonstrating what the body is capable when taken to the extreme of talent and relentless, dedicated practise. This, coupled with the beauty of the Cirque’s tradition of bringing performers from around the world together, leads to a truly heartwarming sensation, as acts rely on seamless, unspoken collaboration.

Perhaps people who traditionally enjoy circus shows are more likely to enjoy any given performance by Cirque du Soleil, but those who do will find a real treasure trove in Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico. Everything just works, and the abilities of the performers are really sensational and worthy of admiration. As with most Cirque productions, it’s an evening very well spent indeed.

Michael Higgs
Photos: Ambra Vernuccio

Cirque du Soleil: Luzia – A Walking Dream of Mexico is at the Royal Albert Hall from 12^th January until 27^th February 2022. For further information or to book visit the company’s website here.

Watch a trailer for the production here: