WIN: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Cirque Du Soleil Ahead Of The Spectacular Show In Malta
The world’s largest entertainment giants are gearing for a major show here on our little Mediterranean gem, Malta. Cirque du Soleil is bringing its brand new original show VITORI to the island; an exhilarating performance that fuses circus, theatre, dance and music into one breath-taking performance.
VITORI mobilizes a cast of characters inspired by the pieces in the game of chess, the ultimate game of logic and rational thinking.
Photos: OSA Images ©2010 Cirque du Soleil
We’re sure you’ve heard of Cirque du Soleil before, but how much do you really know about them?
From humble beginnings to becoming a global superpower, here are some things you might not have known about Cirque du Soleil.
1. They started as a Canadian street-theatre troupe in the 80s
In the early 1980s, a group of young friends from Quebec put together a troupe of street performers that were known by the name of Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (The Stiltwalkers of Baie-Saint-Paul). This troupe put on an eclectic show, featuring jugglers, dancers, fire breathers and musicians. Their show eventually expanded to the rest of Canada, showcasing what could be considered the future of circus.
Photos: OSA Images ©2010 Cirque du Soleil
2. They’re a (mostly) animal-free circus
And have been since they started.
The only two instances when animals featured in Cirque du Soleil shows are snakes in Zumanity and doves in Believe. This travelling show offered a unique take on circus arts: animal-free, striking, dramatic, beautiful and reflective. Their street performances featured outrageous costumes, magical lighting and original music.
Photo: Vladimir Lorenzo © 2017 Cirque du Soleil
3. Their first permanent show is still being performed to this day
Mystere, which premiered in 1993, became the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show.
Performed in a theatre custom-built to accommodate the complexities of the show, Mystere lit up the Las Vegas strip and became a required stop on any Vegas trip.
Mystere still fills its theatre after two decades of residency in Las Vegas, dazzling generations with its artistry and beauty.
MYSTERE Photos: Matt Beard Costumes: Dominique Lemieux © 2012 Cirque du Soleil
4. They have over 25 active productions at the moment
From shows like Mysetere and Kà that set up residencies in theatres all over the world to new works like VITORI and Bazaar that are brand new, Cirque du Soleil has an impressive portfolio of spectacular circus performances.
Plus another 15 shows whose runs have come to an end in recent years.
TOTEM Photos: OSA Images ©2010 Cirque du Soleil
5. 1,300 artists from 55 different countries form the current Cirque du Soleil team
Every show is made up of anywhere from 50 to 100 artists and athletes who are constantly training, creating and performing.
The team of performers is made up of equal amounts of gymnasts and acrobats, circus performers, and individuals from disciplines such a dane, street theatre, physical theatre and music.
OVO Photo: Vladimir Lorenzo © 2017 Cirque du Soleil
6. They use over 6.5 kilometres of fabric every year
And this goes towards costume, prop and set creation.
These are all fundamental aspects in creating the world and story of all of their performances, and they are designed by in-house team members. A majority of these costumes, props, and sets are also hand-painted or built by Cirque du Soleil members too.
7. Their new show is being created exclusively for Malta
For the first time ever, Cirque du Soleil will present an exclusive and original live performance in Malta for the 40th anniversary of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in the historic city of Valletta.
The high-energy acrobatics of VITORI are guaranteed to thrill audiences in the first of a series of annual shows destined for Malta.
In the classic game of chess, each piece can be sacrificed to save the King. But VITORI is not your typical chess game, so when a gentle yet reckless King falls head over heels for one of the Rooks on the opposing team, ready to sacrifice all in the name of love, he creates mayhem in this rigid and highly structured world.
VITORI will set up a month-long residency at the MCC
Starting from the 27th of November and ending just before Christmas. Tickets are starting at €25, and many shows have already sold out, so grab your tickets while you still can. You can book your tickets online form the Malta Shows website.
We’ve got two tickets to give away to one lucky Lovin Malta reader!
All you have to do is tag someone in the comments below, and the two of you might find yourselves immersed in the magical world of Cirque du Soleil and VITORI.
The shows are very close to selling out, so you’d be silly not to miss this opportunity.
There’s a total of 28 shows being performed in Malta, which might sound like a lot but the main shows are fast selling out so if you want to be sure to not miss out then make sure to get your hands on tickets as soon as possible!
Due to the great response, they have also added some matinée shows to the running but these too are nearly sold out and there will be no more shows added to Malta’s schedule.
Silver Tier tickets are fast approaching selling out and the gold tier tickets are on last call, bronze have sold out entirely so if you’re looking to nab a ticket or two then you might want to consider their platinum VIP experience.
If you’re feeling boujee enough and deserving of a treat, the VIP experience allows you early entrance to the venue.
You’ll also be given prosecco, wine and canapés upon arrival from within the specially designated VIP area that opens an hour before the show begins. You’ll also be given access to the best seats in the house and after the show there’ll be even more canapés
Be sure to grab your tickets before they sell out, it’s not often Malta gets visited by official international acts and we aren’t sure when the crew will be back.
