Arts & Culture
main signature acts, which are on a very high level acrobatically.’ Highlighting the physical demands of human
performance, KOOZA boasts an unprecedented approach to the High Wire, featuring three brothers who are fi fth generation performers, a breathtaking Wheel of Death and a teeterboard. Smith adds: ‘I still don’t enjoy watching the
Wheel of Death but I love what it does to the audience. It is very dangerous and very exciting. T ere is a really small population of the world that can perform it and we have the best. We are also the only company in the world that has a Wheel of Death in a big top.’ In addition to its themes of strength and
fragility, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA boasts plenty of laughs too, thanks to its clowns and slapstick humour. Smith says: ‘A lot of the Cirque shows have
diff erent momentums - for instance, some have more poetry or developing characters. T is isn’t like that. It’s one act right after another, so the clowns give you a break from the acrobatics. ‘It’s really funny stuff too. T e appeal is the
unpretentiousness of it. It’s not sophisticated. T ere is something so raw, which is a big part of its success.’ Kicking off its European tour in style, the
critically acclaimed production will start its run on Saturday 5 January 2013 for a limited engagement at the Royal Albert Hall. Smith adds: ‘With the concept being
traditional circus, we are using a colour palette of deep reds, golds and whites, so I think it is going to look stunning in the Hall. ‘T e Hall has posed enormous challenges though. As we have the heaviest set of any touring production, it is too heavy for the fl oor of the Hall and we have to build one to support it. All the lighting will have to be diff erent too, which poses problems for the high risk acts. T ere are going to be big challenges but it is so
KOOZA runs from January 5 for a limited engagement at Royal Albert Hall. Tickets can be purchased at
cirquedusoleil.com/ kooza and through the Royal Albert Hall Box Offi ce on 0845 401 5034. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit
cirquedusoleil.com.
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special to perform at the Royal Albert Hall that it is worth it.’ Smith concludes: ‘With any of the Cirque
shows I have a really easy job because you know that the audience is going to enjoy it. Even though KOOZA is from 2007, every time a show opens we think of it as a work in progress, so my job is to keep the show alive and keep it changing.’
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