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Merci, au revoir, and that's a 25-year record Queensland!

Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA sets new Queensland attendance record

 

BRAVO QUEENSLAND – The Sunshine State has set a 25-year attendance record for LUZIA, Cirque du Soleil’s new show that has been playing at Eagle Farm under the iconic Big Top, with over 120,000 tickets sold.

 

Queenslanders have until this Sunday to see the stunning show LUZIA, before the Big Top comes down and the show plays its Australian finale season in Sydney, and then heads direct to New York. 

 

“Thank you Brisbane and Queensland! In the 25 years that Cirque du Soleil has been touring to Brisbane, bringing 10 spectacular Big Top shows to the city, from the very first one in Saltimbanco, through Quidam, Totem, OVO, Kooza and now to LUZIA, we have experienced a very special love affair with this city. Now in exciting news, we can share that LUZIA has broken ticket sales records!!” said Duncan Fisher, President of Cirque du Soleil’s Touring Shows Division.

 

“From LUZIA’s team of 120 people, including 47 artists from 26 different countries, we say Merci and Au Revoir until next time! It’s been a wonderful season in Brisbane,” he said.

 

Written and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, LUZIA cleverly brings to the stage multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico taken from both tradition and modernity. Rich in awe-inspiring moments, LUZIA enchants by incorporating rain into acrobatic and artistic scenes – a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.

 

What’s more, two of artists in LUZIA are Australians in Queensland’s own Helena Merten, and the NSW-born, Queensland-raised Nelson Smyles, both of whom has loved performing in front of hometown audiences.

 

LUZIA artist NSW-born and Gold Coast-raised Nelson Smyles, a Hoop Diver and Clown in the show, said the weather and the amazing sunshine has blown the cast and crew away in Brisbane. “The weather has been an absolute treat. Many of us have taken advantage of our days off to visit the Sunshine Coast and the islands – oh my goodness they were amazing.”

 

He said Brisbane has grown INCREDIBLY since he has been touring with LUZIA. “Brisbane city has just expanded and expanded. It's so much more beautiful and diverse, so many more restaurants, more places to visit. I have had some very special weekends over at North Stradbroke Island and Morton Island, exploring and seeing what that side of the country is like, we’ve had some great times at the Breakfast Creek Hotel and then of course opening night was amazing.  I had one of my coaches from the National Institute of Circus Arts came and finally saw me in the show, and those moments are just indescribable, and I am so very thankful to be able to have that moment here in Brisbane.”

 

With mesmerising and refreshing acrobatic performances, LUZIA brings traditional and contemporary circus disciplines to a whole new level. Cyr Wheel artists perform the unprecedented feat of rolling and spinning under the rain, while an aerialist suspended from a Trapeze flies and twirls through pouring showers. Hoop Diving is taken onto gigantic treadmills, expanding exponentially the speed and number of daring leaps executed. Jaw-dropping highlights include a male contortionist skillfully twisting his body in the world’s most unimaginable positions, a powerful Aerial Straps specialist defying the laws of gravity at the centre of a cenote (natural sinkhole), a juggler tossing seven pins at breakneck speed, and two football freestylers deftly mixing street dance with mind-blowing ball manipulation.

 

LUZIA in Brisbane closes THIS Sunday November 10 and plays in Sydney from November 24 at the Entertainment Quarter. All tickets at www.cirquedusoleil.com/Luzia.

 

Fun Facts:                                                                

• LUZIA premiered in April 2016 and is Cirque du Soleil’s 38th original production since 1984.
• The word LUZIA is a mix of the word ‘’Luz’’ in Spanish that means light and the word ‘’lluvia’’ that means rain.
• LUZIA is the first touring production to incorporate rain into acrobatic and artistic scenes.
• More than 4.5 million spectators around the world have already seen the awe-inspiring acrobatics and uniqueness of LUZIA.
• In total there are 1,000 pieces of costume seen on stage in LUZIA.
• LUZIA travels with a team of 120 people, including 47 artists, from 26 different countries.   
• LUZIA is the 10^th Big Top show to visit Australia in 25 years.

Downloadable LUZIA PR Materials

Press Kit Document, trailer and pictures: https://media.cirquedusoleil.com/portals/25gcdno5/LuziaPRMaterial

Photo credit: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard

 

About Cirque Du Soleil Entertainment Group

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. Building on four decades of pushing the boundaries of the imagination, the Company brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms, such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, and special events. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group celebrates 40 years of defying reality, defining entertainment, and illuminating the world through art and creativity. Since its creation in 1984, more than 400 million people have been inspired on 6 continents and 86 countries. The Canadian company now employs more than 4000 employees, including 1200 artists from 80 different nationalities. For more information about Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, please visit cirquedusoleil.com.

 

Media Contacts:

IN Brisbane – Kath Rose: 0416 291 493 or kath@kathrose.com

IN Sydney - Mollie Quinn: 0477 112 611 or mollie@flourishpr.com

 

Contact details:

Kath Rose

0416 291 493

kath@kathrose.com