11 November 2024
Newsdesk
Due to unprecedented demand, Cirque du Soleil have announced a further 18 shows for its fast-selling spellbinding production, Corteo. Opening at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 January, the limited series of shows must close on 2 March 2025, with pre-sale tickets for the additional performances available now via Cirque Club. Tickets will be on sale to the general public from 8am on Friday 8 November via the Cirque du Soleil website.
A wholly unique production, the arrival of Corteo will see the Royal Albert Hall reconfigured in a seating arrangement that has never been seen before at the venue. Featuring a stage that splits the hall into two halves, the show is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, and first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Since its creation, the Corteo has amazed over 11 million spectators, in 22 countries, on 4 continents. Corteo will be presented at the Royal Albert Hall from 9 January 2025.
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. 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.
The clown’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 from the Royal Albert Hall’s organ in a straight line to the door 6 entrance, 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. An atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil shows, nor anything previously seen at the Royal Albert Hall. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage. This sets the tone for the poetry of Corteo. It is also the heaviest show that Cirque du Soleil has bought 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.
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES
Friday 14 February – 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Saturday 15 February – 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Thursday 20 February – 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Saturday 22 February – 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sunday 23 February – 1:30PM, 5:30pm
Tuesday 25 February – 7:30PM
Friday 28 February – 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Saturday 1 March – 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
