Cirque du Soleil brings Corteo to Abu Dhabi with acrobatics, live music and dreamlike scenes at Etihad Arena this summer
Cirque du Soleil is bringing its much loved production Corteo to Abu Dhabi for the first time this summer. It’s the final chapter of a show that has travelled the world for more than two decades.
From June 12 to 21, Etihad Arena on Yas Island transforms into a dreamscape of acrobats, clowns, live music and the kind of jaw dropping stunts that make you forget to breathe for a second.
Corteo, which means “cortege” or procession in Italian, plays out like a whimsical parade imagined by a clown. There’s no strict storyline. Instead, scenes drift in and out like memories. One minute you’re laughing at playful clowning, the next you’re staring up at flying chandeliers and performers bouncing across beds as if they’re made of clouds.
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Classic Cirque magic, basically. Since its debut in 2005, Corteo has toured more than 150 cities and played to over 12 million people, with landmark runs at venues like London’s Royal Albert Hall and The O2. Abu Dhabi now gets its turn and it’s set to be the largest Cirque du Soleil show the capital has hosted.
The setup is a little different too. The stage sits in the centre of the arena, with the audience facing each other from both sides. You don’t just watch the show. You watch other people watching it. It adds a strange, lovely intimacy, like you’re part of the performance.
A 117 strong international cast brings it all to life, with live music carrying the action from start to finish.
If you’ve ever wanted to watch someone fly through the air like gravity is just a polite suggestion, this is your moment. Tickets start at Dhs150 and are on sale now via Etihad Arena, Ticketmaster and Platinumlist.
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