Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo to make Royal Albert Hall history

The production of Corteo, said to be the most enchanting arena production from the Cirque group, will see a central stage with each half of the audience facing the other. A first in Royal Albert Hall history, the venue will be divided from the organ, in a straight line, to the door 6 entrance giving the audience a unique perspective of the show.

Performances will take place between 9th January and 2nd March with group rates available. 

“It is wonderful for the Hall to be used in this way and will without doubt be one of Cirque du Soleil’s most extraordinary performances.”

Matt Todd, director of programming, Royal Albert Hall

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). Over the past few years Cirque du Soleil has worked jointly with the Hall to install new anchor points to allow heavier shows to visit the historic venue.

About the Cirque du Soleil show

Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show is said to bring 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 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. 

The set curtains, which were inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage.

Duncan Fisher, president - touring shows, for the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said: “We are thrilled to finally bring Corteo to the Royal Albert Hall. The extraordinary work that has gone into splitting the Royal Albert Hall in two halves will allow our audiences to experience one of our best loved productions as it was originally imagined. We cannot wait to present Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall as it has never been seen before.” 

It is the 29th year that the Royal Albert Hall has welcomed Cirque du Soleil. Its director of programming Matt Todd added: “This is the first time that we have been able to reconfigure the Hall like this, dramatically and uniquely changing the whole perspective within the auditorium. It is wonderful for the Hall to be used in this way and will without doubt be one of Cirque du Soleil’s most extraordinary performances.”