Cirque du Soleil’s latest touring production, Corteo is a visually splendid and alluring production complete with all the grandeur and acts one has come to expect from the circus company. The production has some fifty three artists, eight musicians, six comedians and over one hundred and seventy-five costumes.
As with most Cirque shows there is a narrative that underscores the acts and performances. Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, sees the worlds of heaven and earth merge as Mauro the clown envisions his own funeral. Acts are suspended high above the performance space as angels and his imaginings combine the two realms.
The huge lavish baroque themed set and performance space runs down the middle of the arena with the two halves of the audience facing each other. This brings a unique viewing experience for Perth audiences.
Due to the huge size of the venue and larger than life acts, it does lack the intimacy of other cirque shows performed in the Grand Chapiteau, however the performers manage to fill the stage with grand gestures and supporting characters add to the narrative.
The show opens with giant chandeliers suspended from above with artistes performing daring aerial manoeuvres. At one point an artiste suspends herself from one foot while swinging around the stage. And as with all the aerial acts, it is performed without a safety harness or net.
Throughout the imaginings of Mauro’s funeral, beds fly and become trampolines, as cast project themselves through the air between the beds with abandoned gusto. Artists perform on various horizontal bars and in another act a human trapeze, as they swing and propel themselves just managing to avoid each other. Other aerial acts include the Suspended Pole and a cleverly performed Artist Marionette.
The human gyroscope saw performers spinning in hoops at vast speeds while managing to avoid a collision while jugglers didn’t miss a beat managing to juggle clubs, diabolos and hoops with aerial mastery and near perfect precision.
Mr Loyal, the whistling virtuoso performs a hauntingly moving melody completing the scene with a duel with the violinist, while the crowd pleaser of the evening was the entertaining and creative Helium Dance. This involved a clowness, suspended by four gigantic translucent helium balloons, being nudged through the arena by delighted audience members like a giant buoyant beach ball.
Cirque once again presents traditional acts in unique and entertaining ways whilst being performed to an original and distinctive soundtrack. Corteo is a creation of high calibre acts that has become synonymous with Cirque du Soleil productions.
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
RAC Arena, 700 Wellington Street, Perth
Performance: Friday 8 August 2025
Season continues to 17 August 2025
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
Following the Perth season, Corteo will be presented at John Cain Arena, Melbourne (22 – 31 August), Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney (4 – 14 September), Brisbane Entertainment Centre (18 – 28 September) and Adelaide Entertainment Centre (2 – 5 October). For more information, visit: www.cirquedusoleil.com for details.
Images: Cyr Wheel, costumes – Dominique Lemieux – photo by Maja Prgomet | Chandeliers, costumes – Dominique Lemieux – photo by Johan Persson | Kleizmer, costumes – Dominique Lemieux – photo by Maja Prgomet
Review: Craig Dalglish