Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Luzia’ amazes with awesome sets and and awe-inspiring acrobatics

Part circus extravaganza, part fever dream, and all-round great entertainment, Luzia is an incarnation of Cirque du Soleil that debuted in April 2016 and has only gotten stronger year on year. Finally, the production has been brought to Australia and can currently be seen under the Big Top in Claremont Showgrounds, Perth.

In a series of grand visual surprises and breathtaking acrobatic performances, ‘Luzia’ invites audiences into a surreal stage-scape inspired by all things Mexico.

It’s a vibrant world suspended somewhere between reality and surrealism. One minute you’re watching scenes from an old movie set, the next you’re voyeur to shenanigans in a smoky dance hall. Then you’re in an arid dessert, then beneath gushing waterfalls – the ever-changing backdrops and costumes always an astonishing delight.

Guided and inspired by dramatic lighting (‘luz’ means ‘light’ in Spanish) and water effects (‘lluvia’ is ‘water), the performers in Luzia dance their way through the production while throwing in some truly astonishing acrobatic and aerial tricks.

Integrating the element of water to a Big Top show is a first for Cirque du Soleil. The idea of placing a water basin beneath the stage floor and conjuring a rain curtain paid huge dividends on the acrobatic front, with the element of water enabling the creators to take the cyr wheel out of its usual context.

At one point, two artists perform on the apparatus on water and in the rain, which seems, at first, unthinkable. In order to solve the adhesion issue, a bicycle tyre was mounted on the wheel rim. It’s tough mechanics such as this, painted over in glorious colour, that make Luzia an accomplishment in physics and chemistry but never do the mechanics overshadow the really impressive stuff: the magic of fluid human movement.

If you’re looking for an absolute storyline in this show, you probably won’t find it. What you will witness is a kaleidoscope of glorious colour, intricate costumes, wonderful dance, and gravity-defying performances, all in mesmerising homage to the spirit of Mexico.

There are even moments of pure slapstick, where giant cactus come to life to dance and muck about, making you think you yourself have just swallowed a few tabs of mescalin.

The aesthetics and aerobics of this show are so magnificent, one wonders why the French didn’t just hire Cirque du Soleil to put on their opening ceremony instead of the mess that was last week. Luzia proves once again that Cirque du Soleil are a performance troupe unsurpassed by any other.

Be sure to bring the whole family or make it a bright and memorable date, and go see this vibrant show.

Antonino Tati

‘Luzia’ is on under the Big Top at Claremont Showgrounds, Perth until September 1, 2024.

Tickets are available here.

LUZIA: IN NUMBERS

• Luzia is Cirque du Soleil’s 38th original production.
• The Big Top seats more than 2,600 people.
• The Big Top stands at 19 meters (62 feet) tall and is 51 meters (167 feet) in diameter.
• The 4 steel masts stand at 25 meters (82 feet) tall each.
• 550 pegs are required to hold the big top firmly to 48,500 square feet of asphalt.
• The Big Top can withstand winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph).
• The entire site set-up takes 8 days which includes the installation of the Big Top, a Concessions Tent, VIP Tents and rehearsal spaces for the talent.