Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS Comes to Toronto

All photos courtesy Cirque du Soleil

Ready for a return to normal? Then Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities may be the perfect antidote to the craziness of the past year or two, says Contributor Kim Kerr

It’s no doubt very fitting that a return to normal(ish!) after a couple of years of Covid will be marked by a return to Toronto of the anything-but-normal Cirque du Soleil.

Montreal Quebec’s masters of the surreal are bringing their epic steampunk spectacle, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, to TO’s Ontario Place in the spring of 2022 for what promises to be yet another sell-out, must-see show in Canada’s largest city. Presented by Sun Life Global Investments, the Toronto shows mark the official return of KURIOS after a close-to two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“Toronto has always been a special place for us and we’re ready to be reunited with Cirque du Soleil fans in Ontario,” says Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. “More than ever, we need the shared connection that live entertainment brings.”

According to Lamarre, a number of other Cirque du Soleil shows will also be reopening or launched around the world. These include four residences in Las Vegas alone: Mystère, “O”, The Beatles LOVE, and Michael Jackson ONE. 

The Return of Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS

The group are especially excited about bringing KURIOS to Toronto as it marks the return of their Big Top touring performances. Other world destinations being singled out for Big Top shows include Houston (Alegría), London (LUZIA), and Punta Cana (KOOZA).

“Traveling to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world has always been the core mission of Cirque du Soleil,” says Lamarre. “To be able to do it all over again with KURIOS sparks an indescribable feeling of pride in all our artists and employees.”

The widely heralded KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities marks a welcome return of the company’s trademark brand of dazzling acrobatics and showmanship, all with an added dose of humour, artistry, and poetry. Billed as a much-needed “escape from reality” for pandemic-weary audiences, KURIOS reveals s a spectacular steampunk-themed world full of unexpected twists and turns.

Set in an alternate yet vaguely familiar past, the audience peers into the laboratory of an eccentric inventor who’s consumed by the idea of a hidden, invisible world coexisting with his own. After unlocking the door to this alternate universe, time stands still, and a bevy of otherworldly characters begin bringing his collection of curios to life.

Toronto’s in for a ‘Curiously’ Good Time

This spectacular celebration of creativity and imagination saw its debut back in 2014 in both Montreal and Toronto before hitting the road and being seen in over 30 cities by over 4.5 million people during its run of over 2,000 performances.

“When the COVID-19 outbreak began, Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries were among the first and hardest hit, which included live performances,” says Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome the return of Cirque du Soleil to Ontario Place next spring and am looking forward to seeing their exciting show – KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities. The return of performances like this will go far to bring joy back to our province, as well as provide a much-needed boost to the tourism sector.”

KURIOS and the Big Top hit Toronto’s Ontario Place on April 14, 2022, for a limited run.

While tickets are now available for Club Cirque members to purchase online, general tickets for what promises to be one of the top things to do in Toronto this spring will be on sale December 3, 2021, at cirquedusoleil.com/kurios. 

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Contributor Kim Kerr is a Muskoka-based patron of the arts and a lover of the finer things in life