Behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil's Totem show
There are a plethora of shows featuring acrobatics, circus theatrics, comedy and visual effects, but there will only be one Cirque du Soleil. And what goes on behind the scenes are just as impressive as the shows the Canadian circus company’s superhuman performers create on a daily basis.
Take for instance one of its highest selling tours TOTEM, which is a show described as “a fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind” and operates like a little town on wheels.
It has nearly 80 trucks to transport around 1,000 tons of equipment to set up the Big Top, the entrance and artistic tents, the offices and the kitchen.
Once you enter its site, with 118 employees (46 of which are artists) from 28 different countries, TOTEM is already a world of its own.
Inside the artistic tent is a melting pot of different cultures united by their love of performing and bound by the camaraderie that they have for each other.
Most notable is the non-verbal communication between the performers.
Take for instance its Russian Bars artists. You see 10 artists perform feats of strength, balance and acrobatic movements where jumpers are launched into the air, leaping from one bar to the next by the pointers, who are down on the ground holding and controlling the bars.
Any Cirque du Soleil show is known for its elaborate set and lighting, costumes and make up. And it does mean that in order for circus-lovers to enjoy the spectacle, there is a huge organised operation that goes on behind the scenes.
When we went to visit the TOTEM site in Malaga, where it is currently stationed, various department heads showed us some of the show’s backstage secrets and we had a really good sense of how a jaw-dropping show like this operates.
We started inside the Big Top, where we were able to set foot on TOTEM’s marsh upstage, which serves as a projection surface.
Some of the projections of the marsh interact with the movements of the artists in real time and so it was quite an experience to have a go at the active imaging technology on stage.
And it is not just the performers on stage that appreciate the audience’s rapturous applause.
“Technicians feed on that applause, too. It’s sort of an addiction,” Head of Lighting Matt Cadden said.
Another busy area of the tent is Deborah Linden’s wardrobe department.
“My role is also to make sure that the artists are comfortable and feel safe when they go out on stage in their costume.”
Since its world premiere in 2010, TOTEM has mesmerised more than five million people worldwide and next year it will return to the Royal Albert Hall from 12 January until 9 February.
Tickets are now on sale via the Royal Albert Hall website or Cirque du Soleil website.
