CORTEO an acrobatic performance puts a lot more dynamic load on a building than even something like moving set pieces . Acrobats are typically smaller and lighter than the average human in the air but when they get moving , they can generate a lot of dynamic forces .
To prepare for the arrival of Corteo in January you are transforming the Royal Albert Hall to accommodate it . What does that involve ? This is a traverse show , and as far as we ’ re aware , it ’ s the first time anyone has put a full traverse show in the Royal Albert Hall because it would be a crazy thing to do , right ? It means you ’ re basically going to kill a whole bunch of seats .
The project involves us changing the entire building . Historically , we would put in what we call the Cirque floor , or the lower exhibition floor , where we extend the venue ’ s stage out over the arena , but for this show we ’ re putting in the higher exhibition floor , and that is going to only leave the top four rows of stalls exposed .
We ’ re going to widen the auditorium , or at least the show deck , to make it considerably longer , and then we ’ ll put our set on top of that and extended it out level using temporary structures .
It means that at the north end of the building the primary seats there will be in a backstage area . Getting the agreement of the Royal Albert Hall seat owners has been a major facet to this whole project , because there was obviously a requirement to move a lot of the seat owners from their usual positions . They ’ ve been very generous in allowing us to do this . We ’ re very , very excited about this whole project , it is a real first for the venue .
What impact will that transformation have on the venue ’ s audience capacity for the show series ? The venue at full capacity is typically around 5,200 , and when we bring in a Cirque show that usually goes down to just over 4,000 . For this show , we ’ re going to have 3,099 seats . Normally , with the big
Gerard Edwards-Webb , right ; Royal Albert Hall
top shows , which are 270-degree thrust shows with a centralised set , we would not have the choir seats on sale . With this show being long and narrow , we ’ re able to put the choir seats on sale as well as the main seating .
“ IT ’ S THE FIRST TIME ANYONE HAS PUT A FULL TRAVERSE SHOW IN THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL .”
Aside from the new look , obviously weight is an issue as well . I ’ m told it is the equivalent to hanging 11 elephants from the ceiling . Has it meant that you ’ ve had to make any major adaptations to the grid system ? The big top shows are technically more challenging in that regard . As I mentioned , over the years we ’ ve added anchors permanently to the building specifically for Cirque du Soleil . Because it is a traverse show , and there ’ s three track and trolley systems above the show , we ’ re using anchors that we call chicken feet . There is a three-way bridle to align it and that goes out to stabilise the grid to prevent it from shunting . There are fewer anchors required for this show , because it is designed to go into buildings , than a big top show . Most of the forces inside the engineering of the show resolve themselves inside the structure but we ’ ll be hanging a huge spreader grid .
Is the idea of this format to create a more intimate atmosphere for the audience ? It ’ s going to be like having two proscenium theatres back-to-back . Both audience sides can see the reactions of the opposing audience . We ’ re particularly looking forward to this one , because , of course , the audience will be considerably closer to each other . In a typical arena , the lower bowl and the upper bowl get further and further away . But here , with the box fronts and then the circle , the audience are going to be considerably closer to each other and the performers . We ’ re very much looking forward to seeing how that ’ s going to drive the atmosphere in the room .
Is there any concern that because the Royal Albert Hall is such a beautiful space , not least to watch a Cirque du Soleil show , that there might be a negative reaction to it being transformed ? I don ’ t think we ’ re going to see a negative reaction at all . I think people are going to be fascinated by what we ’ ve done . We ’ re aware that you won ’ t get the same overall grandeur of the auditorium that the audiences are typically used to when walking into the circle or the stalls or one of the boxes . It was carefully considered , and we really believe this show is going to be quite spectacular . accessaa . co . uk 37