Overview
Usually when Cirque du Soleil hits cities around the world, it has audiences rolling up to its big top to see stunning acrobatic feats. But with the Montreal-based circus company's latest show, which also marks a pioneering display for the organisation, viewers will be hitting up arenas instead — because CRYSTAL takes place on ice.
Cirque du Soleil's first-ever ice show, CRYSTAL still features all the trapeze, juggling, aerial acrobatics and more that fans have seen and loved across the company's past 41 productions — seven traditional circus acts, in fact, including banquine and hand balancing — but then adds a frosty surface rather than its usual stage setup. And, it includes figure skating and extreme skating into the spectacle as well, two disciplines that've never been featured in a Cirque du Soleil production before now.
Even better: CRYSTAL will make its debut Down Under in 2023, kicking off in — when else? — winter. The show will start unleashing its frosty wonders in New Zealand, starting in Christchurch and then heading to Auckland, before making its way to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in Australia.
This'll mark Cirque du Soleil's first visit since KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities in 2019 and 2020, although that production's run was interrupted by the pandemic.
Also part of CRYSTAL, and another Cirque du Soleil first: remastered pop songs, including Beyoncé's 'Halo', U2's 'Beautiful Day', Nina Simone's 'Sinnerman' and Sia's 'Chandelier', in the company's only touring show so far to use such tracks.
CRYSTAL has been doing the rounds worldwide since 2017, with more than 1.8-million people in 115 cities in 12 countries checking it out over the past five years. The all-ages show takes its name from the production's protagonist, who acts as the audience's guide as she follows her destiny to become herself.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S CRYSTAL — AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2023:
Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18 — Christchurch Arena
Tuesday, July 4–Sunday, July 9 — Spark Arena, Auckland
Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 6 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Thursday, August 17–Sunday, August 20 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Thursday, August 31–Sunday, September 3 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Friday, September 15—Sunday, September 17 — RAC Arena, Perth
Cirque du Soleil's Crystal will tour New Zealand in June–July 2023, and Australia in July–September 2023. For more information, or to buy tickets from 12pm on Wednesday, November 16 — with various presales beforehand — head to the show's website.
Images: Matt Baker / Olivier Brajon.