The insects have moved into the Royal Albert Hall in the form of the latest production by the internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil with the lavish show OVO which translates from Latin into egg.

There is no mistake that the performance takes place around an egg as the large OVO takes centre stage from the beginning. With the insects scurrying around before the show begins to warm up the audience. The “buzz” in the auditorium suggests they achieved this.

Cirque du Soleil entertains the audience throughout the performance with a range of acrobatics. The insect world inspired production sees the bees in the flowers, worker red Ants gathering food in a line, a contortionist white spider and a group of grasshoppers.

The main storyline as such takes place between Master Flipo (Mateo Amieva) whose trying to woo the charismatic ladybug played by Neiva Nascimento. However, the ladybug has her attention focused on the voyageur fly (Robin Beer). He is busy buzzing around the stage and keeping an eye on the egg left in their care that it takes him a while to realise.

One of the most captivating parts of the production takes place in Act Two when the crickets jump back and forth up the wall at the back of the stage. One thing about watching fascinating acrobats is that they make it look so easy and you sit thinking about trying it out, then realise that you don’t have the skill set to.be able to even attempt it without risking injury.

Gringo Cordia set designer places the insects firmly into a large natural environment. From the waterlilies, large flowers for the bees to pollinate, and the overgrown wall used by the grasshoppers. This is complemented by the range of insect-inspired costumes designed by Liz Vandal.

There’s no dialogue throughout OVO the cast interactions are through vocal rhythm and a “gibberish” style of language which is designed especially to allow Cirque du Soleil to be universally understood and breaks down all language barriers.

For more information about OVO and its future at Royal Albert Hall please use the link below.

Four Stars.

Photo credit-Marie-Andrée Lemire.

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/calendar

Tumbling: Kilian Mongey (France), Mikhail Kostianov (Russia), Oleg Kuzim (Russia), Jorn De Laendar (Belgium), Christoffer Sogaard (Denmark), Ramarni Levena (UK)

Caroline Lemay (Canada) – Band Leader, Oboe, Flutes, English Horn
Marco Da Luz Coelho (Brazil) – Percussion
Juliana Rosario (Brazil) – Vocalist
Robson Cerqueira (Brazil) – Guita Banjo
Mitchell Grobb (Canada) – Violin, Guitar
Carmine Ioanna (Italy) – Accordion, Keyboards
Giovanni Montesano (Italy) – Bass, Cello, Guitar

Guy Laliberté – Founder and Creative Guide
Gilles Ste-Croix – Artistic Guide
Deborah Colker – Writer, Director and Choreographer
Chantal Tremblay – Creation Director
Gringo Cardia – Set and Props Designer
Liz Vandal – Costume Designer
Berna Ceppas – Composer and Musical Director
Eric Champoux – Lighting Designer
Jonathan Deans – Sound Designer
Julie Bégin – Makeup Designer
Fred Gérard – Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer
Philippe Aubertin – Acrobatic Performance Designer

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: OVO
Royal Albert Hall
9 January to 1 March 2026