What is Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ?

Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ at a Glance

• Location: Theater am Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 1, 10785 Berlin, Germany
• Type: Resident show (Cirque du Soleil’s first European residency)
• Artistic Style: Magie Nouvelle combined to acrobatics and theatrical illusions.
• Duration: 127 minutes, including a 25 minutes intermission.
• Audience: Fit for all ages and very family friendly.
• Creators: Valentine Losseau & Raphaël Navarro

Discover What Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ is About

ALIZÉ is a new Cirque du Soleil show in Berlin and Cirque’s first resident show in Europe. Through a blend of breathtaking acrobatics and a new form of stage magic called Acromagic, we crafted a unique and captivating experience. Created exclusively for the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, ALIZÉ marks a major moment in the company’s history.

The story follows Alizé, a quiet and curious dreamer, swept into shifting worlds by a sudden gust of wind. As reality bends and the invisible becomes visible, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, courage, and transformation. Along the way, the audience is invited to reflect on connection, change, and the beauty of fleeting moments.

Presented in Berlin, ALIZÉ has already captured attention thanks to its poetic storytelling, cutting-edge stage technology, and emotional warmth. It is a Cirque du Soleil magic show designed to feel intimate, immersive, and deeply human.

The Creative Vision Behind Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

ALIZÉ is the result of more than twenty years of artistic exploration by directors and magic designers Valentine Losseau and Raphaël Navarro, pioneers of Magie Nouvelle. Together with Cirque du Soleil’s creative teams, they developed a new artistic language where circus arts and magic coexist seamlessly.

The creative vision focuses on what cannot be seen. Invisibility, levitation, and illusion are not used to trick the eye, but to spark imagination. According to the creators, the true magic of ALIZÉ lives in the wonder that unfolds when audiences allow themselves to believe.

Characters of Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

At the heart of ALIZÉ is a cast of symbolic and emotionally rich characters.

• Alizé: The dreamy, introspective protagonist. She’s a teenager who can sense magic where others see the ordinary. Her journey mirrors the audience’s own search for meaning and courage.
• Air: Acting as aguiding presence, she leads not with answers but with trust. She invites Alizé to take risks and feel his own strength.
• Félix: The introverted surrealist clown who brings humor and heart. He grounds the spectacle with his warmth and humanity.
• Ariel and Céleste: A pair of lovers divided by a storm. One has a practical mind; the other is a dreamer. Their story explores balance, trust, and reunion.
• Aigrette: Known as the Dandelion Lady, she weaves memory and hope through music.
• Éole: The spirit of the winds that is the embodiment of nature’s power and tenderness.

Signature Acts in Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

ALIZÉ features Cirque du Soleil’s signature physical excellence, enhanced by theatrical magic. The cast, composed of 43 artists from 21 countries, performs various disciplines such as aerial straps, contortion, puppeteering, high wire, trampowall, BMX, hand-to-hand, and planquine.

Movements feel fluid and wind-driven, as if performers are carried by unseen forces. Acrobatics often unfold above the audience, creating a strong sense of immersion.

Signature Performances

• Prologue & Bedroom: ALIZÉ begins in a bedroom where a sudden wind pulls Alizé into a magical world, launching her journey into the invisible.
• Dance of Winds: Aerial artists perform above the audience, transforming a violent storm into a graceful ballet of flying bodies.
• The Magic Box: Glowing doors appear on stage, each representing a different path, as Alizé and his companions make life-changing choices.
• The Park: A colorful park comes alive with BMX riders, acrobats, and clowns, capturing the playful energy of imagination.
• The Kidnapping: Three puppet characters create a comic struggle, symbolizing forces that try to control meaning and direction.
• Pareidolia: Contortionists appear and disappear while performing extreme movements, using invisibility and illusion.
• Asterios and the Night Fall: Asterios, Guardian of the Fireflies, juggles and creates glowing fireflies that form a bridge, inviting Alizé to cross into the unknown.

• The Crossing: A high-wire artist walks above the stage and offers Alizé a magical fan, symbolizing courage and trust.
• The Kaleidoscope: Multiple versions of Félix leap across a mirrored trampowall, representing self-acceptance.
• The Liberation: A physical clown act shows Félix breaking free, mixing humor with a moment of personal release.
• Catch Me if You Can: An acrobat climbs a ladder to retrieve a glowing firefly, helping Alizé fully awaken his powers.
• The Retrouvailles: Magic reunites the separated lovers in a floating, emotional adagio.
• Whispers of the Wind: An aerial silk performance blends wind, music, and video effects into a poetic duet.
• Reality (Finale): The cast reunites in a joyful finale as Alizé returns to the real world, transformed by magic.

Magie Nouvelle in Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

Magic in ALIZÉ is subtle and poetic. Rather than traditional tricks, the show uses illusion as storytelling. Objects vanish, bodies float, and spaces shift without explanation.

This approach has been described as setting new standards for theatrical magic. The magic does not interrupt the narrative. It deepens it, blurring the line between what is real and what is imagined. That’s what Magie Nouvelle is all about. It’s a movement within illusionism that’s defined as “an art whose language is the diversion of reality within reality.”

Artistic Elements of Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

Costume Design

Costumes in ALIZÉ balance realism and fantasy. Inspired by nature, wind, and celestial elements, they avoid literal representations. Ultramarine blue anchors the color palette, while advanced fabrics allow for extreme movement.

Some materials are designed to absorb light completely, creating invisibility effects. Others shimmer subtly under stage lighting. Each costume supports both storytelling and technical performance.

The Role of Music and Sound in ALIZÉ’s Narrative

Music plays a central role in shaping emotion and rhythm. Original compositions blend orchestral textures with atmospheric soundscapes. Voices, wind-like tones, and silence are used intentionally to guide the audience through emotional peaks and pauses.

Sound design helps transform the theater into a living environment, where every movement feels connected.

Set Design in Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

The set design turns the Theater am Potsdamer Platz into a portal. A floating bedroom, a life-size tree cast from a real trunk, and a sculpted proscenium inspired by a forgotten theater create a world where time and space are allowed to dissolve.

Video landscapes blend seamlessly with physical structures, allowing scenes to shift effortlessly. The audience is not just watching the stage. They are inside it.

Behind-the-Scenes of Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

The Journey of ALIZÉ: From Concept to Success

The creation of ALIZÉ began in late 2023 and culminated in its world premiere in November of 2025, in Berlin. The extensive transformation of the theater was done in support of this permanent production.

The creative journey has been documented and made into a web series that dives into the nitty-gritty of the show’s production. From the early development meetings to the last minutes before opening night, the 6-part Making Of is available for free on ALIZÉ’s YouTube channel.

Planning Your Visit to Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

How to Plan Your Experience at ALIZÉ

ALIZÉ runs multiple times a week and is designed for a wide audience, including families and first-time Cirque du Soleil spectators. Arriving early allows time to explore the transformed venue and take in the atmosphere.

Ticketing and Venue Information for ALIZÉ

ALIZÉ is performed at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, a landmark venue designed by Renzo Piano with seating for around 1,800 guests. For more information, visit ALIZÉ’s official show page.

Connect with the ALIZÉ Community Online

Fans can follow ALIZÉ on social media and engage with behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and performance highlights on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ?

Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ is a permanent show presented in Berlin, Germany. It is Cirque du Soleil's first permanent show in Europe. Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ offers high-level acrobatics accompanied by acromagic as part of a poetic narrative.

Where is Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ performed?

Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ is performed exclusively at Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany.

How long is Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ?

The show runs for a total of 127 minutes, including a 25-minutes intermission.

Is Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ family-friendly?

Like most Cirque du Soleil shows, Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ is meant to entertain the whole family. That being said, it does contain loud noises and some dark scenes.

Who created Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ?

Valentine Losseau & Raphaël Navarro are credited as Directors, Authors, Magic Designers, and Invisibility System Designers of ALIZÉ.

Where can I purchase Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ merchandise?

Exclusive ALIZÉ merchandise and other Cirque du Soleil memorabilia are available at the boutique inside the theater.

Ready to Step into the Invisible?

ALIZÉ is more than a show. It is an invitation to feel, imagine, and believe again. Get your tickets now and experience the first Cirque du Soleil resident show in Berlin.