Step inside the big top at Eagle Farm and prepare to be transported into a world where gravity seems optional, performers defy the impossible and the audience becomes part of the show. Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA has returned to Brisbane with a spectacular celebration of circus, combining jaw-dropping physical feats with larger-than-life characters, incredible music and plenty of audience interaction.
From the moment audiences enter, KOOZA makes it clear that this isn’t a show where you simply sit back and watch. The pre-show is particularly interactive, with performers wandering through the audience, engaging with spectators and creating plenty of playful moments before the main event has even begun. It immediately establishes an energetic and mischievous atmosphere, with the audience never quite knowing what might happen next.
At the centre of KOOZA’s story is The Innocent, played by Alexander Yudintsev from Kazakhstan, a sweet and endearing character whose journey provides the heart of the production.
Following him throughout the story is The Trickster, played by Gold Coast-born Mitch Wynter, an incredibly camp and charismatic acrobat who acts almost as a ringmaster of sorts, constantly appearing around The Innocent and helping guide him through this strange and colourful world.
The production is packed with characters who are just as entertaining as the circus acts themselves. The King, played by American clown Mark Gindick, delivers some of the show’s most memorable audience interaction, including a hilarious moment where he playfully took my phone — along with a number of other audience members’ phones — creating a wonderfully unexpected reminder that we’re all there to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously.
The clowning continues with Miguel Berlanga Madrono from Spain and Duncan Cameron from Canada, who add even more playful energy and comedy to the production, while Maboul and Heimloss showcase their versatility as multi-artists.
The audience interaction is one of KOOZA’s greatest strengths. There is a genuine sense that no two performances will feel exactly the same, with the performers constantly finding ways to engage with the crowd. A particularly entertaining Skeleton Dance sequence becomes another opportunity for audience participation, bringing an infectious sense of fun to the tent.
Of course, the heart of any Cirque du Soleil production is its extraordinary circus artistry, and KOOZA certainly doesn’t disappoint.
The Contortion Duo from Mongolia, Sunderiya Jargalsaikhan and Sender Enkhter, demonstrate remarkable flexibility and control, twisting their bodies into seemingly impossible positions with an elegance that makes their incredible physical ability look effortless.
Emiliano Fusco and Maximiliano Fusco’s Duo Juggling Act, representing Paraguay and the USA, brings precision, speed and impressive coordination as the pair manipulate objects with remarkable timing.
The Duo Unicycle act from Ukrainian performers Anastasila Shkandybina and Dmytro Dudnyk combines balance, agility and plenty of suspense, keeping the audience captivated as they navigate their challenging routine high above the stage.
One of the most breathtaking spectacles comes from the Death-Defying Highwire team, featuring Vicente Quiros, Roberto Quiros Dominguez and Jhon Brahyan Sanchez from Spain, alongside Flouber Sanchez and William Rodriguez from Colombia, who take highwire performance to extraordinary heights with bikes and chairs.
Then comes the Wheel of Death, performed by Jimmy Ibarra Zapata and William Torres Patino from Colombia, delivering exactly the kind of heart-stopping spectacle the name promises as the performers race around the rotating apparatus with incredible speed and precision.
The Balancing on Chairs act by Victor Levoshuk from Russia is another remarkable display of strength, balance and nerve, as seemingly impossible structures are built higher and higher.
The Cyr Wheel, featuring The Innocent and The Trickster, brings the show’s central characters back into the circus action, combining their storytelling with impressive physicality.
And after taking audiences through such a diverse collection of circus disciplines, KOOZA saves one of its most exhilarating spectacles for the finale, with the European Teeterboard performers launching themselves through the air in an incredible ending that brings the entire production to a thrilling conclusion.
The musicians and singers deserve their own spotlight, providing a live soundtrack that adds enormous energy and soul to the performance. The entire musical ensemble is exceptional, with Soul Singer Suzanne Perkins from Jamaica and Spirit Singer Kathryn Holtkamp from the USA particularly standing out with their powerful and captivating vocals.
The Charivari, made up of artists from across Europe, are another highlight, moving with incredible synchronicity while creating a wonderfully inclusive and energetic atmosphere around the circus ring. Their collective presence adds another layer of spectacle to the production.
There is also a spectacular Drum Solo from Eden Bahar of Israel, bringing an explosive burst of rhythm and energy to the show and demonstrating just how much the live musicians contribute to KOOZA’s atmosphere.
What makes KOOZA so enjoyable is the sheer variety. One moment you’re watching contortionists bend their bodies beyond what seems humanly possible; the next you’re holding your breath as performers take to the highwire, laughing with the clowns or watching a character spin through the air.
But beyond the technical brilliance, it is the magnetic performers who make KOOZA truly come alive. Every artist brings personality, confidence and presence to the ring, creating a production that feels like much more than a succession of circus acts.
KOOZA also manages to capture something increasingly special about live entertainment: the ability to make an audience put everything else aside and simply be present. The playful phone-stealing antics of The King are a perfect example — for a moment, the audience isn’t thinking about capturing the experience on a screen; they’re simply experiencing it.
With its talented international cast, incredible musicians, spectacular circus acts and constant audience interaction, KOOZA feels like a celebration of everything that makes live performance so special.
From the highwire and Wheel of Death to the contortion, juggling, unicycles, Cyr Wheel and spectacular Teeterboard finale, KOOZA delivers no shortage of breathtaking moments — but it is the connection between the performers and the audience that ultimately makes this circus experience so memorable.
Cirque du Soleil has once again created a world where the extraordinary feels possible, and Brisbane audiences are invited to step inside, put their phones down, suspend disbelief and enjoy the magic.
KOOZA is big, bold, brilliantly performed and, above all, enormous fun.
TICKETS
Now Playing under the Big Top at 465 Curtin Ave, Eagle Farm
Until 3 October
All images supplied
The Fame Reporter 