Stepping into the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to see Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo, I was immediately intrigued. The space felt unexpectedly intimate for a Cirque du Soleil production—until I realised the genius of the staging: the arena had been split in two, with the stage at its heart and audiences facing each other across the performance. That clever design transformed the venue into a shared playground of wonder, where every gasp and cheer echoed back from the opposite side.
Corteo (Italian for “cortege”) imagines a clown picturing his own funeral as a jubilant carnival. That premise sounds morbid on paper, but in practice it’s luminous, funny, and strangely comforting. The staging is masterful—Eiffel Tower-inspired scaffolding, delicate hand-painted curtains, and shafts of golden light create a dreamscape somewhere between heaven and earth. Watching the performers framed by an audience’s awestruck faces on the other side deepens the show’s emotional texture: we’re all part of the procession.
The acrobatics are nothing short of breathtaking. The chandelier aerial sequence—three ornate chandeliers swinging high above, each carrying aerial artists who flip, spin, and dangle with impossible grace—drew a collective, involuntary intake of breath. Equally unforgettable was the bouncing beds routine: grown men springing across trampolines disguised as mattresses, laughing and tumbling like carefree children. It was joyful, ridiculous, and heart-achingly human.
But the moment that stole the evening belonged to Little Clowness Valentyna. Suspended by a cluster of giant helium balloons, she floated out over the crowd. Audience members reached up to grab her feet, pushing her gently skyward to keep her aloft. In that exchange—between performer and spectator, between earthbound reality and weightless fantasy—the magic of Corteo crystallised.
Musically, mournful trombones, playful flutes, and lilting vocals glide seamlessly between wistfulness and whimsy. There’s an unmistakable nod to Fellini’s cinematic dreamworlds and commedia dell’arte’s mischievous spirit, but Corteo feels fresh—simultaneously grandiose and intimate, polished and spontaneous.
In a world that can feel heavy, Corteo offers two hours of pure, poetic levity. It reminds us that joy and grief can coexist, and that even in imagining our own farewells, we can laugh, soar, and share wonder together.
WHAT: Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo
WHERE: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
WHEN: Until September 28, 2025.
TICKETS: Available here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
