Standing Ovation: A Review of the Heart-Stopping Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

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After a seven-year hiatus, Cirque du Soleil KOOZA has returned triumphantly to Hong Kong, reigniting the city’s love affair with this international theatrical circus phenomenon.

Prepare for jaw-dropping moments as super-human performers fly through the air, walk the tightrope, or run like a hamster inside an outsized mechanical wheel. As Duncan Fisher, Cirque Du Soleil’s Chief Show Operations Officer, says KOOZA is “the most ‘circus’ of all our circuses!” 

KOOZA is a rapturous experience that is fun for the whole family. It exudes spectacle and continues to transcend expectations, with the ability to move you to tears from both laughter and amazement. 

For over two hours, Cirque Du Soleil KOOZA delivers a relentless parade of acts guaranteed to set pulses racing. All the traditional circus acts are here: feast your eyes on classic circus disciplines like high-wire, wheel of death, teeterboard and the gasp inducing contortionists. This season, KOOZA has spiced up the show with some new acts, from Mizuki Shinagawa’s hypnotic aerial silks to Sante D’Amours Fortunato’s mesmerizing hula hoop artistry. 

Storyline

True to Cirque du Soleil’s theatrical roots, KOOZA leans heavily into character-driven storytelling. The show loosely threads together the adventures of Innocent, a naïve character whose quest for a mysterious crown leads him through a kaleidoscopic world. 

Guided by the shape-shifting and charismatic Trickster, he encounters a parade of comic and fantastical figures — from mad kings to mischievous clowns and eerie skeletons lurking in the underworld. 

Beyond the acrobatics, the show explores universal themes of identity, fear, power, and vulnerability, reminding us why Cirque du Soleil is as much a theatrical meditation as it is a physical spectacle.

Stellar International Casting

At the helm as Artistic Director is Jamieson Lindenburg, a Florida native whose vision brings cohesion to the dazzling diversity of KOOZA’s 54-strong cast. The performers hail from as far afield as Mongolia, Spain, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Japan, each bringing their own cultural flair and skills to the internationally understood conventions of the Big Top. 

Atmosphere: Magic Under the Big Top

The Big Top at Central Harbourfront Event Space provides a breathtaking setting for KOOZA’s enchantment. With sightlines across a 260-degree panorama and a star-studded ceiling, the venue feels less like a circus tent and more like stepping into an immersive dreamscape. The atmosphere is surreal and inviting, with every element working in harmony to transport the audience far beyond downtown Hong Kong. There are no bad seats here; even seats at the back get an excellent view of the action. 

Structure and Acts: A Feast for the Senses

The various circus acts are punctuated by the arrival of the clowns, who are also somehow, rather tenuously involved in the plot to help Innocent find the crown. Their slapstick jokes and a few funny turns with a leaf blower provided comic respite and kept the kids in the audience entertained. 

While the clowns’ physical comedy schticks were entertaining, we did find some of the segments to be a bit on the long side. However, the kids in the audience seemed to like them, and we probably should let them be the judge on that.

The Trickster, with his effortless charm, guides the audience through a whirlwind of breathtaking acts. The trio of female contortionists, shimmering in full-body latex prints, performed with a slow grace and control that was hypnotic and intoxicating, while Wei-Liang Lin’s diabolo routine incorporated some traditional Chinese circus skills into the mix, dazzling the audience with his precision and flair. 

The death-defying aerial silk act, performed by Mizuki Shinagawa, was a clear showstopper, combining high-flying artistry with superb athleticism. Mizuki dangles and unravels herself from an extraordinary height. Framed by long columns of flowing red silk, her controlled drops and elegant suspensions took our breath away.

The high-wire act, which unfolds some 25 feet above ground, was a terrifyingly beautiful spectacle. These high-wire authorities biked and balanced poles, a chair, and another acrobat, on tightropes without harnesses — a true test of nerve and skill.

Next up was the Wheel of Death, not for the faint of heart. A giant mechanical wheel spins at dizzying speeds whilst two burly strongmen leap between the spokes of the wheel and leap over its outer edges. Just when we thought the stunts couldn’t get any more absurdly difficult, they started picking up the pace and skipping rope on top of the moving wheels.

We were blown away by the Tower of Chairs act, where a strongman held sculpted poses on top of a precarious tower of stacked chairs. His gracefulness and fluidity in each movement were so controlled and his physical strength so immense that for many of the would-be weightlifters in the audience, this was a highlight of the show. 

The show ended with old-fashioned and wonderfully executed acrobatics, as performers were launched high into the air from a teeterboard, the height and level of difficulty increasing with each stunt. There is a timeless joy about witnessing these super-human feats of athleticism and artistry close up. It was the perfect finish to a great show.   

KOOZA's Eclectic Music and Enchanting Costumes

KOOZA is supported by a live band, which performs on a balcony nestled above the main stage. The music defies easy categorization, blending 1970s funk, urban old-school hip hop, and electric boogaloo into an eclectic soundscape that matches the show’s vibrant energy. What made it even more special were the two vocalists, who delivered a powerhouse performance that resonated throughout the Big Top.

Meanwhile, the costumes dazzle with over 175 handmade creations inspired by graphic novels, Gustav Klimt, and global traditions — from India to Eastern Europe. More than a thousand pieces, including wigs, hats, and accessories, craft a vivid world seen through the Innocent’s eyes, with playful nods to "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz."   

Standout Technical and Stage Design

The set strikes a delicate balance between intimacy and spectacle. The Bataclan, a mobile tower inspired by Hindu and Indian jewelry motifs, serves as a dynamic centerpiece, sometimes moving into the main stage area and sometimes shifting further back. The starry canopy, patterned like leaf veins, gives the space an organic, yet otherworldly feel.

Lighting and sound design conjure up a magical, radiant world brimming with color and fantasy, which perfectly complements the performers’ energy.

Final Thoughts

Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA is a dazzling, exhilarating spectacle — a masterclass in balancing the sublime with the silly, the athletic with the artistic. It invites audiences to marvel at human physicality whilst journeying through a vibrant, theatrical world.

While KOOZA is a spectacular celebration of traditional circus artistry and is perhaps intended to be set in a fantastical country, we felt that the clowns could have worked in some Hong Kong-specific elements or jokes. A layer of contemporary relevance to the show would have made it more fun and perhaps helped the show register more distinctly in our long-term memory. 

Whether you are a circus aficionado or a first timer, this show is worth the ticket, especially given its extended run. Take your friends, take your family, and prepare to be swept away under the Big Top, where magic is very much alive.

Cirque Du Soleil Kooza has been extended until July 13, 2025, so be sure to get tickets now!

Showtimes vary, with up to three performances on Saturdays and family-friendly matinees on Sundays. Scheduled over 10 days, each show will run for about 125 minutes and include a 25-minute intermission.

Standard tickets start at HK$450, while VIP tickets are priced at HK$1,998, with discounts for kids (two to 12 years old).

If you use the promo code WEEKDAY15, you can enjoy 15% off midweek performances of Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA. This special offer is only available on June 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, and July 2, 3. Check out the deal below for more information! 

For more details, visit Cirque Du Soleil on their website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Location: The Big Top, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central

Dates: May 21, 2025 to July 13, 2025