KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is an uplifting Cirque du Soleil production that dares to ask: What if, just by letting your imagination run wild, you could unlock a world of wonders? If discovering the marvels that lay beneath the surface are revealed the moment you close your eyes?
You may not find clear-cut answers throughout this 2 hour and 10-minute-long production, with a 25 minute intermission. What you will discover, though, is an escape from everything familiar. Enter the world of wonders known as KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, a steampunk fantasy brought to life, where the craziest ideas thrive.
The story follows the Seeker, an inventor with a curio cabinet convinced of a hidden, invisible world that exists beyond our own. This place is where the craziest ideas and grandest dreams lie waiting. It’s a makeshift mechanical realm where other-worldly characters exist: his collection comes to life and make things very, very interesting.
KURIOS first premiered in Montreal in 2014. It’s Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production since 1984, a show that has mesmerized over 6 million spectators in over 40 cities worldwide. Keep reading to find out more about this show, a world that takes everything you know about time, space, and dimension and flips it on its head.
Discover the Magic
Want to dive deeper? Explore Cirque du Soleil’s shows near you and come see us in action!
Characters of KURIOS
Every Cirque du Soleil story is told through enigmatic characters. It’s what makes us, us. From one city to the next, from one performance to another, these enigmatic personalities have captivated and delighted audiences, regaling them with adventure told through whimsical acts and enthralling acrobatics. KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, is no different.
Let’s explore the characters you’ll be meeting under the Big Top:
The Seeker
The Seeker is a curious inventor who thinks there's a hidden world full of ideas and strange creatures. He opens a giant mechanical cabinet to explore it. His collection creates the setting for the show.
Nico the Accordion Man
Nico is shy and kind. His accordion-shaped costume stretches and shrinks so he can change his height and posture. It helps him connect with everyone around him.
Mademoiselle Lili and Cosmolito (Characters on Rotation)
Mademoiselle Lili lives inside Mr. Microcosmos. She’s emotional, creative, and thoughtful. Her space is filled with tiny furniture and decorations. She represents the softer side of the machine-like exterior.
Cosmolito is a poet and actor who also lives inside Mr. Microcosmos. His room looks like his mother’s living room, with personal touches like a family portrait. He brings drama and sensitivity to the same small space.
Mr. Microcosmos
Mr. Microcosmos looks like a walking machine built from steam-age metal and gears. He represents progress and self-sufficiency. Inside his large torso lives another character, either Mademoiselle Lili or Cosmolito, in a small, furnished Victorian room.
Klara the Telegraph of the Invisible
Klara wears a hoop skirt that acts like a signal receiver. She turns and points it to catch invisible waves. Her appearance is based on early antennas and circuit boards. She represents the drive to communicate with things we can’t see.
The Kurios (Plunger and Winch)
The Kurios are clunky robots built by the Seeker out of scrap parts. They don’t work perfectly, but they’re full of personality. They help bring the Seeker’s creations to life.
The Curiosistanians
The Curiosistanians are from a made-up place called Curiosistan. They show up to spark the Seeker’s imagination. Everything about them reflects curiosity and creativity
These characters, donning their 19th century costumes and gear, each possess their own unique traits and quirks. One by one, they light up the stage and bring the whimsical steampunk vibes of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities to life.
Signature Acts in KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
Call it poetry in motion. One thing’s for sure, you’re destined to be amazed by the acrobatic mastery of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities. The events take place upon a stage that’s set inside the Seeker’s curio cabinet. Here is a sampling of some of the acts that continue to awe, soirée after soirée.
Chaos Synchro 1900
The show opens at a busy train station. A crowd of performers arrives in vintage clothing. There’s dancing, juggling, and music. It sets the show’s tone right away.
Cradle Duo
A strongman and a doll-like partner rise from a music box. They climb a tall structure and perform flying tricks together. The act is fast and precise. Each catch requires complete trust.
Aerial Bicycle
An acrobat rides a bike hanging in midair. She balances on every part of it—even upside down. It’s playful, unique, and graceful.
Contortion
Four fish-like contortionists twist and climb on a giant steampunk hand. Their movements are fast, controlled, and exact. They form shapes that look almost impossible.
Upside Down World
Dinner guests build a tower of chairs to reach a floating chandelier. The act turns into a contest of balance and nerve between two versions of the same world.
Invisible Circus
A ringmaster announces a circus you can’t see. He uses sound and a few props to help the audience picture it. It’s funny and strange, and everything happens in your imagination.
Rola Bola
A pilot lands on a platform and begins stacking cylinders and planks under his feet. The platform swings while he balances. It’s slow, risky, and requires complete control.
Acro Net
Performers dressed as sea creatures bounce and flip on a giant trampoline net. They launch each other high into the air using just their legs. The act blends trampoline tricks with dance and diving, a performance completely unique to KURIOS!
Aerial Straps
Aerialists take off on aerial silks and straps. They fly in a smooth motion, defying gravity itself. The routine is clean, technical, and absolutetly impressive.
Continent of Hands
A pair of hands tells a short story. A camera films them, and the footage plays on a hot-air balloon screen. The ending happens among the audience and it's a beautiful moment. Poetry amongst acrobatics.
Comic Act
A performer pulls someone from the crowd to step inside the KURIOS world. Things get chaotic fast, with random interruptions from a parrot, a dinosaur, and a cat. It’s fast and absurd.
Yo-Yos (The Master of Time)
A yo-yo artist spins pocket watches as if they control time. He speeds them up, slows them down, and makes them move in sync. The timing is sharp and flawless.
Artistic Elements of KURIOS
A spectacle of steampunk creativity, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities lets Cirque du Soleil’s brilliance and boundless creativity take center stage.
The Steampunk Aesthetic: Set Design in KURIOS
The visuals of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities are deeply rooted in a steampunk aesthetic, a thrilling blend of 19th-century design with a retro-futuristic twist. As you enter the Big Top, you’ll find yourself immersed in a spectacular curio cabinet belonging to the Seeker himself.
The set, designed by the astonishingly talented Stéphane Roy, draws its influence from the dawn of the industrialization era but feels like it’s from the future at once. Think of it as an aesthetic had science and technology evolved similarly, but totally different.
The performance space features two large towers—cabinets. One cabinet serves as an exploration of sound, while the other is an ode to the advent of electricity. These cabinets act as “wave sensors.” They’re repurposed gramophones, old typewriters, electrical bulbs, and turbines salvaged from junkyards.
To fully immerse audiences into the steampunk universe, the set designers of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities created the effect of a real hardwood floor by pouring silicone onto centuries-old planks of wood to create a mold. They then covered the mold in varnish, applying up to 26 coats of paint and clear varnish to recreate the hardwood floor effect. In total, it’s comprised of 160 independent panels.
The Costumes of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
The costumes you’ll see in KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities are a feat all their own. More than 8,000 items were created to dress the cast. The stylings feel both steeped in the past, and with one foot in the future. These garments draw inspiration from the discoveries and inventions of the industrial revolution of the 19th century, while celebrating the pioneering technology that has helped lead us to where we are today. Some notable mentions:
- Inside Mr. Microcosmos: A character inside a character! Mr. Microcosmos carries Mademoiselle Lili inside his costume using a sling. Through the door in his belly, you can see the furnished interior of Mademoiselle Lili’s quarters.
- Bend and compress, like Nico the Accordion Man: Bendable and foldable like a real accordion, Nico’s costume is folded up like a work of origami from unwoven textile. His look is inspired by photography camera darkrooms of yore.
- Paging Klara: Klara’s skirt is made from hula-hoop rings of varying sizes—when she twirls, she receives invisible electromagnetic waves. She’s inspired by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and is shaped like an early antenna.
- From sea to shining sea: The costumes designed for the Acro Net performers pay homage to the works of director Georges Mélières and his vision of what Martians look like—they come adorned with fins and a fishtail, as well as scales printed onto the fabric using a technique called sublimation.
Intricate Props and Mechanical Wonders on Stage
It’s hard to write about KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities without pointing to its signature set piece: A giant mechanical hand that appears during the contortion act as well as the “Continent of Hands” scenes. This marvel weighs 750 pounds (340kg), and is operated by two artists with a pedal and gears.
Other props come together to fill the stage with steampunk glory. Whimsical machines, gadgets, and other machinery create a surreal yet cohesive environment. The Seeker’s chair, another mighty prop, stands 11.5 feet tall, adorned with fragments of recycled metal.
There’s also the train in the “Chaos Synchro” act, which extends out from Mr. Microcosmos’ costume for more than 62 feet (19m). This fantastical design is carved out of aluminum and completed with a hard vinyl exterior.
💡 Did you know? KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities features 464 props and accessories in total—the MOST for any Cirque du Soleil show.
Lighting and Sound that Transport You to an Alternate Reality
The production’s immersive soundscape and lighting design play a crucial role in shaping its world. The lighting, brought to life by Martin Labrecque, shifts between warm and subdued to dazzlingly bright—like diving headfirst into a steampunk inspired world.
And then there’s the score. Like the perfunctory sounds of an assembly line, composers Bob & Bill and Raphaël Beau created an upbeat soundtrack fusing elements of jazz and electro swing. Percussive elements are woven throughout the show, meant to evoke the sounds of innovation and engineering.
Step back in time to the Steampunk era of KURIOS with a listen of its original soundtrack.
A Closer Look at KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
Before working on KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, writer and show director Michel Laprise had been working with Cirque du Soleil for about five years prior.
He says the idea for a steampunk-steeped universe came about during a visit to the Big Top in Quebec City. While there, he was inspired by the look of the tent, just four steel posts covered in a canvas. He noticed it felt like a big radio antenna. From there, he began researching electricity, the telegraph, the gramophone and steam-powered trains—all 19th century innovations.
Leaning into Cirque du Soleil’s rebellious side, Laprise partnered with set designer Stéphane Roy to envision a steampunk world of their own. Their own, because most steampunk is set in a Victorian era and showcases a world in which electricity hadn’t been harnessed and instead, humanity continued to rely on steam.
“Our steampunk won’t be Victorian,” said Laprise. “But rather Parisian.” He found himself drawn to the Paris Fair of the 1900s, where people were discovering new inventions and innovations. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Cirque du Soleil production without a touch of magic.
“Magic often uses everyday objects, because people know what a top hat is, and we still have them today. Magic was based on everyday life, and that’s the route we also took, harnessing fantasy from reality,” says Laprise. “They are real chairs, real suitcases, a real newspaper.”
Planning Your Visit to KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
Want to make the most out of your visit to KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities? Keep reading for some of our top tips on how to have the best time possible.
What to expect
Ready to explore the weird yet delightfully wondrous world of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities? Here are some tips to help make your performance the most enjoyable it can be. For starters, the show has a 90-minute run time, though, admittedly, it may feel like time ceases to exist as you gaze up at the enchanting performance.
The show is family-friendly, too, so kids can take part in the fun too—but we recommend that very young children sit this one out.
Seating & Best Views
KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is a show that takes place beneath the Big Top. But if you want the best views, here’s a breakdown of the seating chart:
- Front and center: Gives you an up-close view of the show and lets you see the action from up close.
- Mid tent seating: A just-right balance of proximity and wide views—you’ll feel at once a part of the action with a full view of the stage while getting the best feel for the tent atmosphere.
- Upper levels: Get affordable seats and see all the action and excitement from up above.
Remember to consult the seating map when booking your tickets, so you can ensure you and your fellow attendees have the best time, seated side by side.
Ticketing Options
Secure your tickets for KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities by heading to the show page. There, you’ll see everything from prices to what cities we’re headed to next.
Go Beyond the Big Top with KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
The thrills of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities doesn’t have to end after the final bows. In fact, there is a deliriously exciting amount of ways you can stay connected, relive the wonder, and share your experience with others.
Join the KURIOS Community Online
Become part of the KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities community! Connect with fellow fans who have also found themselves enchanted by the gravity-defying acrobatics, whimsical characters, and breathtaking artistry.
Follow KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities on Instagram to see photos, behind-the-scenes content, upcoming show dates and a whirlwind more.
Read Reviews, Get Audience Reactions
Curious about how others felt about the show? Browse reviews and audience reactions on social media and entertainment blogs. Share your own feedback and experience the magic through the gaze of your fellow spectators. Community is how we help keep the excitement alive!
Exclusive Merchandise to Remember the Experience
Commemorate your journey into the world of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities with beautifully designed apparel and limited-edition collector’s items. Perhaps our signature scent will entice you—a compelling way to carry your memories of performance with you everywhere you go.
Equipping yourself or gifting someone else with official Cirque du Soleil is a unique and colourful gift, the perfect memento for that fan you know.