STAR STUDDED RED CARPET ATTENDED BY
LADY ANITA DOBSON, SIR DAVID JASON, SIR LENNY HENRY, DAME ARLENE PHILLIPS, DAISY RIDLEY, HARRY JUDD, HAYLEY ATWELL, DUNCAN JAMES AND ANTONY COSTA, BRYONY PAGE, DAMON HILL, JAIME WINSTONE, JASON ISAACS, JEROME FLYNN, LARA STONE, LEE MACK, MYLEENE KLASS, RICK ASTLEY, AND MANY MORE
- The unique double-sided production is now open at the Royal Albert Hall until 2 March 2025, with tickets for all performances on sale now
- One of Cirque du Soleil’s most iconic shows – seen by over 11 million people worldwide
- A never seen before seating arrangement splitting the Royal Albert Hall in half
- One of the ‘’heaviest’’ Cirque du Soleil productions ever presented in London
Wednesday 15 January 2025: The magic of Cirque du Soleil lit up the iconic Royal Albert Hall tonight with the dazzling London premiere of Corteo – one of the company’s most beloved productions. The unmissable show, which has captivated over 11 million fans across 22 countries and four continents, is now running until 2 March 2025. With tickets selling faster than ever, they are available to buy now via the Cirque du Soleil website.
The star-studded premiere welcomed a glittering line-up of celebrity guests, including Lady Anita Dobson, Sir David Jason, Sir Lenny Henry and Dame Arlene Phillips, alongside an arrange of entertainment and sport icons such as Daisy Ridley, Hayley Atwell, Duncan James and Antony Costa, Bryony Page, Damon Hill, Jaime Winstone, Jason Isaacs, Jerome Flynn and Lee Mack. The red carpet buzzed with familiar faces, from Rick Astley to Myleene Klass, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening.
A wholly unique production, the arrival of Corteo sees the Royal Albert Hall reconfigured in a seating arrangement that has never been seen before at the venue. Featuring a stage that splits the hall into two halves, the show is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, and first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005.
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
The clown’s dreamlike imagination pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.
In a Cirque du Soleil first, the stage is central in the arena and divides the venue from the Royal Albert Hall’s organ in a straight line to the door 6 entrance, with each half of the audience facing the other half, giving a unique perspective not only of the show, but also a performer’s eye view of the audience. An atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil shows, nor anything previously seen at the Royal Albert Hall. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage. This sets the tone for the poetry of Corteo. It is also the heaviest show that Cirque du Soleil has bought to the Royal Albert Hall, suspending a massive 67 tonnes from the grid (equal to the weight of 11 elephants hanging from the ceiling).
Cirque du Soleil started its much-loved annual residency at the Royal Albert Hall in 1996, and is now a staple of the entertainment calendar in London, as the famous venue becomes a permanent big top for over two months each year.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for all performances of Corteo at London’s Royal Albert Hall are available online now at cirquedusoleil.com/corteo
Follow #CORTEO and #cirquedusoleil on social media:
TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube