Backstage Access

Working at the Cirque has been an amazing experience.

I've never worked at a place that is constantly so upbeat and happy!

Little did I know that things were going to get even BETTER though.

Whilst doing a shift as an usher, I made friends with one of the girls there. It turns out that she is Venezuelan and is currently touring with the show. I was curious about this... but I didn't give it too much thought.

It turns out that she's married to one of the artists!!!!

So, a few days later Lizbeth tells me that she's arranged for me to go BACKSTAGE as a VIP for one of the performances!!!!!!!

So on Saturday, in the drizzling rain, I waited patiently at the staff gate with my brother for Lizbeth to come and get me. She came with her father-in-law, before running off to work herself.

This is me with Mr Pedro Santos, he trains his three sons. Their family are from a long line of circus performers from Spain.

One of the technicians helped us to take this photo, in the background is the main character of the show, Irina Naumenko.
Javier is Lizbeth's husband. The two brother's, Pedro and Ramon are twins. These three are SEVENTH generation circus performers!
Sitting backstage and watching all the artists train and prepare was incredible. They all seem to take their flexibility for granted!

The Greatest Show (Job) on Earth!!!

I have found myself the GREATEST JOB EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm working for CIRQUE DU SOLEIL!!!!!

That's right, I'm at the Cirque! French-Canadians everywhere, tumblers, jugglers, acrobats and singers.... dozens of different nationalities, all wandering around within about 100 metres.....

As an usher, I not only get to watch the show almost everynight, but I also get to be a part of the show! I do lots of technical guarding, artist escorts and blackouts during the quieter parts of the performance.

Jeremy (another usher whom I work with) and I decided to go for a wander before our shift started to have a bit of fun around the compound.

We both found the costumes tent to be particularly amazing.

I felt the need to jump.

And I mean JUMP!

Jeremy followed suit.

Anna and Jeremy thought to take the poses to the next level!

In the middle of our break during the show, Jeremy and I decided to go wandering around a bit again.

We found our supervisors, Brendan (from Brisbane) and Luc (from Montreal) walking around. They both look so serious don't they?
We tried to go into the Tapis Rouge.... but being simple ushers we weren't allowed in.....
Jeremy decided to console himself in the arms of the zebra.
Until we both moved on to find ourselves the cheetah and panda.

Mmmmmmmmmmm..... curry.....

Time for another curry party!

It seems to have become a yearly tradition.... though one that ends this year with the impending departure of.... pretty much everyone!

With one year gone, everyone seemed to have improved their cooking skills and there was an entire bench full of everyone's homemade creations.

Add a few cases of "Tikka Beer", imported from India... and we had a nice party.

It was Fliss' birthday... I think. I'm assuming that was the reason for the curry..... any excuse will do these days to be honest.

Guv looks shell shocked! Less than a month, and he'll be in London!
Stead gives his BIGGEST grin!

Too much beer makes people do odd things....

I don't know what's happening in this photo... and I don't really want to know....

Hail Hail Hail

After the biggest hailstorm in over 30 years, my friends and I went in to check the damage....



There was ice EVERYWHERE.
Rachel is running away as I chase her with ice....
Mmmmmmmm.... tasty.
Nice large chunks of ice.
Others decided to bury their friends for fun....









Betty and I found some strange mist rising as the ice melted in some areas.
Weird.