Cirkopolis Coming to Toronto in 2017

The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and Canadian Stage are pleased to announce that tickets are on sale today for their inaugural co-presentation of the English Canadian premiere of Cirkopolis, the critically acclaimed show by Montreal-based troupe Cirque Éloize. Cirkopolis will be on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre March 1-12, 2017.

With Cirkopolis, Cirque Éloize takes their breathtaking blend of circus arts, theatre and dance to a highly-stylized metropolis setting where eleven acrobats and multidisciplinary artists rebel against monotony, reinvent themselves, and challenge the limits of the factory-city as only they can. Performing within an inventive stage design and accompanied by an original musical score and video projections, they live in a world where fantasy defies reality -the veil of anonymity and solitude is lifted and replaced by bursts of humour and colour. Co-directed by Cirque Éloize Artistic Director Jeannot Painchaud and choreographer Dave St-Pierre, Cirkopolis transforms the classic films Metropolis and Brazil into a virtuosic circus spectacle for the whole family.

To date Cirkopolis has been performed 400 times, in 23 different countries, to over 300,000 people, and is the winner of the 2014 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, following a successful New York City run.

The co-presentation between the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and Canadian Stage is the first between the companies, signaling a new era of possibilities for both.

Mark Hammond, CEO, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts said,"Cirque Éloize opened the refurbished Sony Centre in 2011. We are extremely honoured and excited to bring the company back to Toronto with the stunning production of Cirkopolis. This is our third venture into our neighbouring theatre, the Bluma Appel, and we are proud to welcome this internationally renowned company back to our community, , and to engage in our first partnership with the highly regarded Canadian Stage organization."

"Cirkopolis is a staggering synthesis of circus, theatre, movement, and light, balanced by a very true and touching exploration of human emotion. From the world renowned Cirque Éloize - who define innovation - it is an exhilarating piece of work that we felt very strongly about bringing to Toronto audiences as part of our special Saison du Québec in the 16.17 season," added Artistic and General Director of Canadian Stage, Matthew Jocelyn. "I am thrilled that through this partnership with the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts - who we hold in such high esteem - we can bring this astonishing piece of work to the city. It is an absolutely unmissable experience."

Since the show began touring in September 2012, it has received rave reviews from the public and critics alike. The New York Times wrote "There aren't more beautiful [shows than Cirkopolis]", while the New York Post wrote "Extraordinary! There's the circus, and then there's Cirque Éloize. These guys are on a whole other level." The Montreal Gazette said, "Cirkopolis is a wonder. This was to be expected, given that it is a Cirque Éloize creation." When the show visited Europe, the reviews were equally enthusiastic, with The Stage writing "An impressively coherent production. Way more than simple entertainment!" and the Stage in the UK describing it as "Thrilling, dramatic, astonishing, mesmerizing simply a dream."

Cirkopolis is co-directed by Cirque Éloize Artistic Director Jeannot Painchaud and Dave St-Pierre and choreographed by Dave St-Pierre. The show features set design and illustrations by Robert Massicotte, music by Stefan Boucher, acrobatic designs by Krzysztof Soroczynski, costumes by Liz Vandal, lighting design by Nicolas Descoteaux, and video projections by Robert Massicotte and Alexis Laurence. Make-up design is by Virginie Bachand, Renald Laurin acted as Drama and Acting advisor and Emmanuel Guillaume as Artistic Coordinator. Jonathan St-Onge is the Executive Producer.

Single tickets can be purchased in person at the Sony Centre Box Office, over the phone at 1-855-872-SONY (7669) or online at www.sonycentre.ca

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