Cirque du Soleil is back in WA! The international sensation currently showing at RAC Arena with CORTEO, and it’s a mesmerising treat for kids, teens, and grown-ups alike. The season runs now through 17 August, with mostly evening performances and a few family-friendly weekend matinées at 12pm and 4pm. Walking into the arena on opening night brought back that same spark of excitement I felt with last year’s massive hit, Luzia.
Now celebrating 26 years, Cirque du Soleil sweeps you into a whimsical world. CORTEO is a dreamlike procession, led by a lovable clown who’s imagining his own joyful funeral that seems somewhere between heaven and earth. Expect vibrant costumes, stunning sets, a soaring live soundtrack and vocals. There’s heart-stopping acrobatics, aerial acts, slapstick style comedy, and plenty of “how on earth did they do that?” moments that had families around us gasping.
Half the magic is in the surprises, so we won’t give too much away. A standout for us was the sweet Valentina floating across the arena with her balloons – sure to be a moment of giggles for everyone. Each act is thrilling, showcasing the cast’s incredible strength, flexibility, and grace. The little gymnasts amongst us will love it.
If you saw Luzia: that big-top intimacy is hard to beat, and the arena definitely feels larger. That show set the bar very high for me. But CORTEO’s charm, humour, and artistry still shines – even if I was not always following the storyline.
Practical bits for parents: the two-hour show includes a 20-minute intermission around halfway, handy for toilet breaks and snack runs. Food, snacks, and drinks are easy to grab, there’s loads of fun merch, and accessible facilities are available.
With parking, everyone has their go-to arena event parking spot. There is very convenient underground parking at Perth Arena, but I found the multistory Watertown carpark both cheaper and quicker for getting back onto the freeway after the show — it’s an easy five-minute walk under the freeway bridge.
If you’re after a memorable family outing, CORTEO is world-class circus theatre and a joyful experience.
For session times and tickets, head to the RAC Arena website.
Amanda attended the CORTEO premiere as a guest. All words, images, and opinions are her own.
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Amanda Carlin has her own food and travel blog. Established in 2013, “The Chef, His Wife and Their Perth-fect Life” has enjoyed an exciting name change in 2021, as “The Chef’s Ex-wife” embarks on new adventures with Simply PERTHfect. Amanda loves getting out and about in Perth and WA, as well as brunching, tapas or something a little fancy in equal measures. With her son “Little Chef” in tow, Amanda always has plenty of family friendly eating options to recommend too! Be sure to check out Simply PERTHfect.
