Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Sunday January 17, 2016 :
Part circus, part theatre, and part rock musical, Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam began it’s Newcastle residency last Friday and will run until Sunday January 24. The simple review would be to go buy tickets and to not miss it, but there is much more to say.
Upon entering the venue with barely seconds to spare, the first thing you notice is the cabling structure that arcs over the circular stage. Utilising this, the performers and actors can literally float and walk through the air, and enter and leave the stage from the rooftop. Visually it only adds to the magical quality of the storyline.
The performers are some of the most talented and impressive you will witness. The impossible precision of the spinning tops, where one, then two, and finally three tops are thrown through the air only to be caught on a length of string.
Power and strength is exhibited, where the slow control of the movement injects an emotional beauty that brought a tear to this reviewer’s eye.
And the life and death struggle of the ribbon aerialist, at times wrapped in the ribbon, others being held aloft by simply the crook of her neck, was a sight to be seen. The fast paced timing of her movements matched to the music added to the drama of the performance and was the highlight of the performers. Crossfit had nothing on this.
Woven between the performers is a quite sad storyline brought to life by dozens of actors. Young Zoé is bored and looking for love from her distant parents, it is a tale that can easily be lost amongst the visuals and feats, yet only adds to the emotion of the performances if you read between the line.
So yes, go buy your tickets to Quidam. It can feel whimsical and quite silly at times, but is always breathtaking and awe inspiring.
Reviewer: Kevin Bull and Begona Pretorius
Photographer: Matt Beard
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