What is OVO About?

What is OVO about? This insect-filled Cirque du Soleil show is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem, a world where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight, and look for love. It’s a new day in a world overflowing with contrasts, as we peek into the hidden, secret world at our feet. The show invites audiences to embrace the little things and see life from an insect’s perspective.

OVO, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a high-energy Cirque du Soleil experience that brings the amazing hidden world of insects to life through a celebration of movement, color, and acrobatic artistry.

If you haven’t had yet had the chance to see this beguiling, bustling-with-action performance for yourself, then keep reading. In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes of OVO, one of our most family-friendly performances to date, exploring the creative vision that helped bring this microscopic masterpiece to life, and we’ll get into where the mysterious egg fits into it all.

The production originally premiered under the Big Top in 2009, transferred to arena in 2016, and was reimagined in 2024 to commemorate its 15th anniversary. The restaged version features enhanced visuals, new acts, dynamic staging, and updated costumes and music, while preserving the original spirit and joy of the show with a refreshed visual identity.

Meet the Cast: The Characters of OVO

Enter a world of unique biodiversity melded to the beauty of circus arts, as told from the perspective of the main characters, an odd bunch of exuberant bugs, whose journeys we follow.

• The Ladybug
  A lively and spirited insect, the Ladybug is secretly yearning for something to shake up her ordinary life, perhaps even love. Her optimism and energy make her a beloved figure among the colony. Everything changes when The Voyager arrives with a strange, glowing egg. As curiosity spreads, the Ladybug sees the egg as a sign that something magical is about to unfold, not just for her, but for the entire insect world. Her budding romance with The Voyager lies at the heart of OVO’s narrative, adding a playful, emotional core to the spectacle.

• The Voyager
  Always in buzzing motion, The Voyager is a chaotic, charismatic fly who bursts into the colony like a whirlwind. He’s full of bravado, somewhat overconfident, and a little bit unhinged, but also deeply curious and drawn to connection. The moment he lays eyes on the Ladybug, he’s instantly smitten. He carries with him a mysterious egg that becomes the focus of attention for the entire colony, symbolizing mystery, possibility, and change. His quirky nature provides both comedy and disruption to the insect community.

• Master Flipo
  Master Flipo is the eccentric yet wise leader of the insect colony. He sports a colorful, layered carapace and has an unmistakable flair for the dramatic. Equal parts mentor and goofball, Flipo commands both respect and affection from all inhabitants of the ecosystem, from crawling critters to airborne dancers. His role is to guide and maintain harmony in the colony while embracing the unexpected, particularly with the arrival of The Voyager and his egg.

Signature Acts in OVO

OVO, like all our dreamy productions, is brimming with jaw-dropping acrobatics. A few highlights to look out for include:

• Foot Juggling – Ants
  The bright red ants are the tireless workers of the colony, and their act is a mix of discipline and whimsy. They begin their day gathering food, this time kiwis and corn, but quickly turn it into a joyful game. Balancing the items on their feet, they juggle with such precision that the act escalates into a surprising twist: ants juggling ants. It’s a comical and technically demanding performance that sets the tone for OVO’s unique insect world.

• Orvalho – Dragonfly Balancing
  A dragonfly performs a graceful balancing act atop tall, twisting plant stalks. Moving slowly and deliberately, he shifts his weight from hand to hand while suspended upside down over lily pads. The act requires incredible control and core strength, and it evokes the delicacy of nature’s balance. Orvalho means “dew” in Portuguese, a subtle nod to the serenity of this piece amidst the show’s buzz.

• Cocoon – Metamorphosis
  A solo aerialist portrays the fragile transformation of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Draped in flowing silk, she twists and turns in midair, embodying the delicate yet powerful journey of metamorphosis. The act’s theatricality emphasizes the show's recurring theme of change and rebirth, echoing the mystery of the egg introduced by The Voyager.

• Aerial Straps – Butterflies
   Two butterflies perform an aerial pas-de-deux with breathtaking grace and power, suspended from straps high above the stage. Their synchronized movements evoke the courtship flight of butterflies in nature, as they sweep, dive, and land in perfect unison. The act combines strength with romance and is one of the visual highlights of the show’s narrative arc of transformation and connection.

• Aerial Cradle – Scarabs
  A group of scarabs launch themselves across a massive aerial setup, flying from both edges of the stage to the center. A full six meters (18 feet) separates the platforms, making their airborne transitions feel daring and dangerous. Their precision, timing, and athleticism create an explosive visual spectacle that captures the wild energy of this insect world.

• Diabolos – Weevil and Fireflies
  In this mesmerizing nighttime sequence, a lone weevil emerges under a darkened stage, scanning his surroundings as flickering fireflies dart across the scene. The insects' glowing lights appear in sudden bursts, creating a dreamlike game of hide-and-seek. As the weevil chases them, the entire scene pulses with shifting light and mystery, conjuring a magical world normally hidden from human sight.

• Chinese Poles – Fleas
  Fleas, tiny but mighty, transform the stage into a vertical playground. They climb, leap, and glide between poles with astonishing agility, often falling head-first in controlled, jaw-dropping drops. Their high-speed movements are a thrilling example of raw acrobatic power, and their act brings verticality and velocity into full view.

• Creatura
  A strange hybrid of slinky, insect, and abstract lifeform, Creatura dances to a rhythm all its own. With stretchy limbs and fluid movements, this bendy being defies classification. It’s a visual embodiment of constant evolution, always twisting, always moving, a living sculpture in motion that adds surreal flair to the ecosystem.

• Aerial Net – Moth in the Web
  An aerial artist plays a Cyana moth caught in an invisible spider’s web, suspended above the stage in a net. His movements are slow and deliberate, telling a haunting story of entrapment and survival. With every twist and pull of the net, he swings between freedom and capture, strength and fragility, echoing OVO’s emotional tension between vulnerability and resilience.

• Trampowall and tumbling - Crickets
  A dozen crickets bounce, flip, and run across a vertical wall, using trampolines and air mats to launch themselves. Their high-flying choreography shows off their athletic prowess and teamwork. It’s a visual marvel that pushes the limits of human coordination and endurance, making the impossible look effortless.

• Slackwire – Spider on the Leaf
  Balancing on a wire stretched over a rocking giant leaf, a lone spider performs a heart-pounding sequence of stunts. His incredible control and strength defy physics, as he tiptoes across his slackline stage. It’s a poetic and nerve-wracking act that shows how fragile yet strong even the smallest creatures can be.

• Web – The White Spider
  In the haunting stillness of her lair, the White Spider waits, curled in impossible contortion poses. With elastic grace, she bends backward and sideways, her body folding in ways that baffle the eye. Her silent presence is menacing and mesmerizing, as we’re left to wonder: who will fall into her trap? A heedless cricket? A delicate moth? Or maybe, just maybe, one of us?

Artistic Elements of OVO

From the colorful costumes to the set design, all the artistic elements present in OVO make it a feast for the eyes and a delight for the senses.

Costume Design Inspired by the Vibrant World of Insects

To bring the costumes for OVO to life, costume designer Liz Vandal found inspiration from many sources. Some of these were expected, her own fascination and affinity for insects helped inform the look and feel of the costumes. But other unlikely sources helped spark her imagination, including fashion designers like Pierre Cardin and his use of graphic lines and geometric shapes in his work. 

Renaissance apparel also guided her vision, helping bring the magical world of insects to the stage. Otherwise, fabric transformations, like Mitex, lend a sense of realism, mimicking the hard, shiny surface of a bug’s exoskeleton. Predominantly sewn in a stretchy Lycra fabric, printed by sublimation for texture and sheen, performers can wear them and pull off their gravity-defying tricks with ease and move as freely as an insect crawling up a tree trunk.

One particular aspect to pay attention to is the pleating technique seen on several of the costumes Vandal and her team leveraged the Permanent Pleating technique that was developed by Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.

💡Did you know? The Cricket costumes, worn by over a dozen performers, took 75 hours each to build.

The Role of Music and Sound in Ovo’s Narrative

The musical score for OVO was created by Berna Ceppas. The soundtrack is upbeat and energetic; what you might expect a bug’s universe to sound like. The score weaves elements of bossa nova, samba, funk, and electronic music. But to really add dimension and texture, Ceppas sampled actual insect sounds.

For every performance, a seven-piece band performs live. The musicians adapt to the events unfolding on stage, communicating constantly via headsets and headphones and following the show from monitors.

OVO’s set design

It’s a bug’s world, and we’re all just living in it. Conceived by set designer Gringo Cardia, the idea behind OVO’s set design was to create a stage that looked and felt like a habitat that insects would live in and can be found in. At times, the set appears to be a forest. Other times, it’s made to resemble a cave. In some instances, the backdrop looks like a house. 

It all begins with a gigantic 28-feet-large inflatable egg plopped on stage prior to the audience arrival. This mysterious object is unknown to the insects of OVO. But its presence and purpose are felt throughout the entire show, making it central to the story. It’s a symbol of fertility and rebirth.

Much like in real life, there are almost no straight lines on the set, except for the Spider’s Web, with its angular and straight lines. Beyond that, the set is filled with enormous props to evoke the scale shift you’ll experience when entering the world of OVO. More than just props, these bigger-than-nature objects become characters in and of themselves.

💡Did you know? The Egg pays homage to the monolith from 2001: Space Odyssey, the Stanley Kubrick film.

Behind-the-Scenes of OVO

OVO is Cirque du Soleil’s 25th live production. It was created in celebration of our 25th anniversary. The show first premiered below the Big Top in Montreal in April 2009. It received early critical acclaim. Since then, it has visited more than 40 countries and 253 cities.

The people that make up the cast and crew of OVO hail from around the world. Representing 25 different nationalities including countries such as Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine, the US, the UK and, of course, Canadians from our home country to name a few.

Planning Your Visit to OVO

Ready to step into the vibrant, buzzing world of OVO? Whether you're a first-time guest or a returning fan, here’s how to make the most of your visit. From securing the best seats to knowing what to expect when you arrive, we've got you covered.

How Can I Get Tickets for OVO?

Wondering if OVO is coming to a city and arena near you? As a touring show, OVO travels from venue to venue, bringing its awe-inspiring spectacle to audiences worldwide. To find out when and where you can catch a performance, visit our website and check the latest tour dates.

For the best experience, book your tickets early, especially if you want premium seats or are attending with a big group. Some locations may even offer exclusive pre-sale access, so stay tuned for updates. You can subscribe to our newsletter for instant access.

The After Show: Engage with OVO

The show may be over (for now 👀), but the magic of OVO doesn’t have to flutter off! Keep the excitement alive by connecting with the OVO and Cirque du Soleil community online.

• Join the conversation: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on upcoming performances, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive fan moments.

• Hear what others are saying: Dive into reviews and blogs to see what audiences just like you loved most about the show.

• Take a piece of OVO home: If you were mesmerized by the performance, don’t forget to stop by the merch booth! Explore the collection of OVO and Cirque du Soleil memorabilia; find apparel, keychains, postcards, and more delightful products.

These are just some ways you can keep the memories close and relive the wonder anytime you wish.