And finally... Find out more about Cirque du Soleil’s shows in the UK and abroad at cirquedusoleil.com
Cirque du Soleil is currently touring the world, while its sister show, Crystal, tours the US
Backstage pass EMMA MANSFIELD
R
As a wardrobe manager for global and West End shows, Emma Mansfield gets paid to dress the theatrical world’s biggest names
IGHT NOW, I’M working on Cirque
now have a combination of crampons and
arenas. Flights are chartered for us if we
du Soleil’s new ice show in the US,
spikes drilled into the soles of their shoes,
have to go a long way between venues, but
called Crystal. It’s Cirque’s first show
which allow them to grip and slide – but
if it’s a six-hour drive or less we travel on
on ice, combining skaters and acrobats.
not hurt each other when they do the lifts.
tour buses. We’re put up in hotels, and I like
We’re touring North America and Canada
The basic costume they have, which is worn
Doubletree by Hilton best as they always
for the next couple of years, then the
repeatedly, has also been coated in a custom
have hot cookies at reception for guests!
plan is to head to Europe and Asia.
print to ensure it’s waterproof on the ice.
We’ve had to adapt all the shoes to
There are around 100 people on the
This is my first stint working in the US as I’m usually UK-based in the West End.
enable the acrobats to work on ice. Thanks
tour, which is made up of the performers,
But wherever I am in the world, it’s my
to months of research and development
the wardrobe department, the stage and
job to shop for clothes, tailor them to fit
by Cirque’s shoe department, the acrobats
tour management team, the PR team, the
the cast and make running repairs and
merchandise department,
Derren Brown was a consultant on one of the shows and I met him a few times backstage. He was very quiet and polite, but I was scared to chat to him in case I ended up clucking like a chicken!
the video, lighting, sound,
alterations throughout the show’s run. I’ve worked on some huge productions,
automation and rigging
including 2015’s run of American Buffalo
teams, as well as the
at the Wyndham’s Theatre, and Impossible at
carpentry crew. We also
the Noel Coward Theatre.
have a tour catering team, which is great. We move weekly
The illusionist Derren Brown was a consultant on the show and I met him a few times backstage. He was very quiet and
to a combination of
polite, but I was scared to chat to him in case
hockey and basketball
I ended up clucking like a chicken!
GTW
114 GROUP TRAVEL WORLD MARCH 2018
114 GTW Mar 18 And finally.indd 114
01/03/2018 15:34