Cirque du Soleil: Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities at the Royal Albert Hall

Nets, towers and chairs clutter the raised platform at the centre of the Royal Albert Hall auditorium: Cirque du Soleil is back in town. The venue’s stage stretches to the stalls area to make space for the thrilling and colourful acts of Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities. The show, presenting its European premiere this January, reveals a fantastic world of creatures. Partly taking inspiration from the 19^th century industrial revolution but also from the memorabilia buried in backstage cabinets of historic places such as the Royal Albert Hall, the setting and characters are the product of mechanical evolution and human storytelling – or rather, human curiosities. The Seeker (Antonio Moreno), through the opening of a magic cabinet, unveils a mesmerising cosmos.

The sleekness and fabled narrative framing and intertwining of sequences are some of the guaranteed characteristics of Cirque du Soleil’s productions. Clever moments of distraction from the stage in the lateral spaces allow for masterfully deft set changes. Here, the occasional strolling presence of the Mentalist, Nico the accordion man, Klara telegraph of the invisible, and Microcosmos with Mini Lili provides another charming addition, as do the introductory sequence and group finale. The costumes and props are works of art: likely holding the record for the number of dresses and objects crafted, even a single appearance in Kurios is carefully planned, on and off stage. And the oddity of some accessories that catch the eye enhances the utopian feel. 

Getting to the real protagonists, the acts are a splendid combination of playfulness, bizarre spirit and prowess. The first part favours solos, with breathtaking numbers such as James Gonzales’s Rola Bola. The fun Upside Down World hand-balancing of Andrii Bondarenko stretches to the sky – in a literal sense – and with pleasure we realise the artists are taking full advantage of the space on offer, height and depth included. The Cradle Duo present an exciting spectacle of somersaults, while the contortionists’ loose and twisted movements introduce the sea theme. Facundo Giminez brings wittily amusing breaks, first in Invisible Circus and later in the comedy act, where he impersonates animals, some with the most ridiculous attributes. The Acro Net is a joyous spree of trampoline techniques, as is the gripping acrobatic frenzy of Banquine. In between, the exquisite Theatre of Hands and the spellbinding yo-yo section showcase the variety of entertainment on display.

Imagination creates worlds of wonder. With Kurios, Cirque du Soleil encourage viewers to open all the closed cabinet doors, follow our curiosity and pursue our desire for discovery. The results are fascinating.

Cristiana Ferrauti

Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities is at the Royal Albert Hall from 13^th January until 5^th March 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch a trailer for the show here: