Cirque du Soleil is bringing its new Mexico-inspired show to the Royal Albert Hall for its European debut — featuring a Londoner who had dreamed of joining the troupe since she was a teenager.
Luzia, described as “a waking dream of Mexico”, will see Cirque’s army of acrobats return to the capital for the 30th year running. Artists include Russian contortionist Aleksei Goloborodko — said to be the world’s most flexible man — while some of the show will be performed under a huge rain machine.
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Among the performers is Londoner Shelli Epstein, 25, who was inspired to join when she saw a Cirque show aged 13. She said: “I had always dreamed of going to the Olympics with Team GB and was a member of a few gymnastics clubs. Then my parents took me to a Cirque show at the Royal Albert Hall. I knew at that point that this is what I wanted to do. So I will be coming full circle when the show comes to London.”
Ms Epstein plays the Running Woman, inspired by the Tarahumaras, a Mexican tribe known for their long-distance barefoot running. She is part human, part monarch butterfly and acts as a guide for the audience. She said the rain provided an extra element of danger but added: “We train a lot and there are precautions in place.”
Luzia opens at the Royal Albert Hall from January 12, 2020. Tickets go on sale from Friday at royalalberthall.com
