Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.
Following the critically acclaimed UK tour of Quidam , Cirque Du Soleil, is to return to the UK with an arena tour of its vibrant signature production SALTIMBANCO, created by Franco Dragone. This timeless Cirque opus hits the UK Arenas for the first time with a series of exclusive shows opening up in Sheffield for 5 shows from Thursday 20th until Sunday 23rd May 2010.
Tickets, priced £40 & £50 went on general sale from 9am on Friday 11th December 2009 from the Sheffield Arena Box Office on 0114 256 56 56, online through this web site and in person at the Sheffield Arena.
Saltimbanco is Cirque du Soleil’s longest running major touring show which has toured the world since 1992 to wide-spread acclaim and has enjoyed sell-out success across the world in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand performing to over 11 million fans.
In the UK, The Times hailed the show “Gracefully athletic theatre” , America’s Variety Magazine added “Human exuberance and physicality, the performers enthrall with one act after another””, whilst the New York Times was equal in its praise stating “Myth meets magic...... An unearthly mixture of commedia dell'arte and rock-concert razzle....”
Classic Cirque at its best, Saltimbanco is a thrilling and kaleidoscopic celebration of awe inspiring artistry and agility. It features breathtaking acrobatics and unbelievable athleticism during solo spotlights and epic ensembles. With a cast of over 50 high-caliber artists hailing from 20 countries Saltimbanco is set to enthrall. From the seemingly impossible balancing, jumping and spinning during the Chinese Poles or the Russian Swing to the gravity-defying Bungees and Trapeze, the crowd pleasing Juggling and Acrobatic Bicycle, to the celebrated and very unique Clowns. Technical expertise and extravagant design are woven together by uplifting spectacular costumes, amazing lighting, humour and enchanting music and magic. Full of colour, amusement and amazement, Saltimbanco is a fun show for the whole family to enjoy.
Saltimbanco —from the Italian “saltare in banco,” which literally means “to jump on a bench”—explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. A signature show, it is inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colourful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show’s eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.
Phil Bowdery, President Of Touring at Live Nation, promoters of the show commented: “We are thrilled to be bringing Saltimbanco to cities across the UK. The show is a signature Cirque du Soleil sensation, it’s a vibrant, uplifting, colorful show, one of the most prolific in Cirque's repertoire. Created as an antidote to the violence and despair, this phantasmagorical show proposes a new vision of urbanity, overflowing with optimism and happiness.”
The world premiere of Saltimbanco was held in Montreal on April 23, 1992 and featured a cast of 36 performers. During its 14-year tour under the big top, the show visited some 75 cities on five continents, for a total of more than 4,000 performances given before a combined audience of over 11 million people worldwide.
In 2007, Saltimbanco has been reconfigured for a new venue—large arenas. Over a period of 21 weeks, the show was restaged to adapt to the new venue size: the stage on which the artists perform was raised and the sound and lighting was adjusted to the new environment. The Saltimbanco tour will stop in about 40 cities each year, with a message that is as relevant and powerful today as it was when the show was created. Saltimbanco can now be presented to 4,000 to 5,000 spectators every night with the same feeling of intimacy as it had under the big top.
Tickets for the Sheffield Arena engagement, 20th-23rd May 2010, went on general sale at 9am on Friday 11th December priced £40 & £50 (subject to booking fee). Tickets available online through this web site, in person at the venue box office or through the ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56.
Tickets for Cirque Du Soleil presents Saltimbanco at Sheffield Arena on 20th - 23rd May are available online through this web site at www.arenaticketshop.co.uk through the ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56 or in person at the Sheffield Arena Box Office.
