Circus without animals

Anupa Kurian speaks to some of the people who make Cirque Surreal, showing in Dubai, a dynamic fusion of traditional circus skills, modern dance, drama and humour

It's a haze of blue, purple, red, green and gold. Performers dash around in a frenzy of activity. Exotic beats pour out of the sound system. Almost magical, like a journey on a flying carpet... a dream. They're the Cirque Surreal Voyagers - a New Age circus that doesn't use any animals.

Currently being staged in Dubai on the grounds of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the production has been brought to the UAE for the first time. It will run until December 21.

Cirque Surreal is a dynamic fusion of traditional circus skills, modern dance, drama and humour. Narrated as a fable, it follows the exploits of five travellers from various continents, drawn together by the the forces of the moon, as they journey to discover their true self in society.

"Cirque Surreal was created in 1995, for the Edinburgh Arts Festival, to break down the traditional norms surrounding a circus," explained Phillip Gandey, director and producer of the show.

"It is more like a West End musical. We have got artists from 15 different countries to create the kaleidoscope of acts and talents.

"Creating a circus of this nature was a bit risky in this day and age, when children are usually glued to television and computer games. However, I believe if you give them something equally exciting and real, they will come to see it.

"So we created a circus that has the same level of dynamism and movement as their games, and this is better, because it is so real... not just graphics."

He said the preparation time for the event was around six months, to create the sequences, music and costumes.

"The clothes were designed with the help of a costume designer from Moscow, and they were meant to reflect the mood of the show."