A steady seller with 8 million cumulative viewers
First visit to Korea in 2018… Attracted 200,000 people
“The theme of the work is ‘human,’ entwined with life experiences”
Until December 28 at Jamsil Sports Complex Big Top, ‘[Edaily’s Lee Yoon-jung] “The circus of circuses, ‘Kooza,’ is a work that has preserved the traditional daredevil acrobatics and clowning. I want to convey the joy and excitement I felt here in Seoul as well.”‘,
‘Artistic Director Jamieson Lindenburg expressed confidence in the steady success of the performance. ‘,
‘At the media conference held at the Big Top in Jamsil Sports Complex, Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th, Director Lindenburg explained the secret to its success, stating, “The ‘Cirque du Soleil’ performance contains elements of emotion, fun, and danger, which are the traditional components of a circus,” and added, “There have been painstaking efforts to bring us this far.”‘,
‘‘Kooza,’ since its premiere in Montreal, Canada, in 2007, has performed over 5,000 shows across 23 countries, drawing about 8 million cumulative viewers. In Korea, during its first visit in 2018, it attracting over 200,000 spectators. After opening its Asia tour in Hong Kong this year followed by Busan, the Seoul performance began on the 11th.’,
‘The stage is designed as a circular circus structure symbolizing a ‘plaza’ with a moving tower called ‘Bataclan’ at its heart. Among Cirque du Soleil stages which are typically 30-36 feet high, ‘Kooza’ is the tallest at about 39 feet. Lindenburg emphasized, “The message of ‘togetherness’ is embedded in Bataclan. The entire set runs manually, making it a handcrafted performance that aligns with the theme of our work, relying heavily on synchronization between staff and stage team.”‘,
‘The narrative of the performance starts with a ‘box.’ When the innocent and lonely character ‘Innocent’ opens the box, ‘Trickster’ emerges, leading him through the world inside the box where he encounters the King, Heimloss, and the Unpleasant Traveler. The title ‘Kooza’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Koza’ meaning ‘box.’ The performance features thrilling acts like the high-speed acrobatic ‘Wheel of Death’ and the tightrope-walking ‘High Wire,’ heightening the tension. Lindenburg explained, “The core theme of our work is always ‘human,’ with characters and their journeys intertwined, eventually connecting to our life experiences.”‘,
‘This tour includes more than 120 staff, including 54 artists. Mongolian contortionist Ninjjin Altanhoyag stated, “Cirque du Soleil is a dream for circus artists,” and expressed pride, “It is most fulfilling to be on stage having achieved this dream.”‘,
‘Kim Yong-kwan, CEO of Mast International, who planned the Asian tour of ‘Kooza,’ expressed, “We plan to expand performances with Cirque du Soleil in the future,” hoping for a version of ‘Cirque du Soleil’ based on Korean culture.’,
‘Lindenburg also did not hide his affection for the Korean audience, saying, “The passion for love and life seen in Korean films and music is unprecedented,” and he anticipated, “Our show encapsulates that passion. It will be a warmly received stage, especially for those who love films, dance, or gymnastics.” The show runs until December 28.’