Water works
What : Cirque Du Soleil – Luzia Where : Royal Albert Hall When : Runs until 27 February
Canada ’ s Cirque du Soleil marked 25 years since it first brought its pioneering brand of contemporary circus to the Royal Albert Hall , with a premiere of its Mexican-themed extravaganza , Luzia , on 13 January .
The show , ahead of a run at the Hall until 27 February , saw a celebrity-filled audience soak up the spectacular show that included a huge , illuminated , waterfall tumbling from the domed ceiling of the 150-year-old building as acrobats flung themselves through it while performing breathtaking stunts .
The use of water to create everything from rain to a waterfall , a projection screen , and even comic moments , is a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production . The production involves a huge water container , suspended 46ft above the stage , that has 174 nozzles . The stage floor has 94,657 holes through which the water drains into a 3,500-litre basin hidden underneath .
The water is filtered , disinfected , and maintained at a constant 28 º C . All 6,000 litres of water used during the performance are recycled for use during the show ’ s entire run at the venue .
The set was designed by Mexican production designer Eugenio Caballero , whose extensive work on major film productions includes his Academy Award-winning creations for Guillermo del Toro ’ s film Pan ’ s Labyrinth .
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