Wondering what Mystère by Cirque du Soleil is about? Mystère premiered on Christmas Day in 1993, making it Cirque du Soleil’s longest-running production. This 90-minute production takes the viewer on a spectacular journey that questions the origins of life, and the gift of human imagination. Keep reading to learn about Mystère, Cirque du Soleil’s tale of life, energy, and nature.
The Mythical Characters of Mystère
The mythical characters that make up the cast of Mystère are reflections of ourselves, embodying life's challenges, contradictions, and complexities. Each brings their own dynamic personality to the stage—mesmerizing audiences with their quirks. Every character has their own story to tell.
Without further ado, meet some of the madcap characters and support cast who make up the universe of Mystère:
- Les Bébés are typical infants, with an appetite for food and attention. Though they seem selfish at first, they don’t mean to be. Les Bébés are learners, testing the waters to figure out their wants and needs in life.
- Red Bird’s fiery spirit is apparent in his many daring acrobatic feats. You’ll quickly learn that Red Bird is a little playful and mischievous—they’re on this planet to have a good time. But what also comes through is Red Bird’s determination, striving to reach the highest of heights.
- The Spermatos/Spermatines: Though they aren’t viruses, the Spermatos/Spermatines do infect the world with something else: Delight and folly. Think of these creatures as the seeds of life, proliferating to spread vitality wherever they go.
- Les Laquais are the servants of the Mystère world. They gleefully tag along on others’ pursuit of happiness.
- La Vache à Lait: The sound of this cow’s horn signals a rebirth of sorts. This character serves as the protector of babies and is a symbol of fertility.
- Alice the Snail: In the world of Mystère, this almighty mollusc represents both the past and future.
Over the years, these characters have been brought to life by various performers from all four corners of the world, each infusing something unique into their portrayals. Cirque du Soleil is proud of its international cast and crew: Currently, artists from over 19 different countries are represented in Mystère.
It no doubt takes a village to bring such a sizeable performance to life: The show dazzles with 64 artists on stage with 65 technicians making the magic come to life from behind the scenes.
The production brings together a diverse group fluent in 10 languages, with English being the most commonly spoken. Among the cast and crew, you’ll also hear Belarusian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Romanian, German, or Ukrainian.
Signature Acts in Mystère
What makes Mystère such a masterpiece is no mystery. Atop the production’s 28-foot-high revolving stage—which rotates up to 10 revolutions per minute—many awe-inspiring performances and acts unfold. It’s a compelling blend of acrobatic performances and powerful storytelling brought to life, all of which leave audiences enchanted. Here are some of the acts you can expect to see during Mystère.
- Chinese poles: Chinese poles are vertical poles that our performers slide up and down on, performing acrobatic tricks and holding body-bending poses upon them along the way. Mystère makes great use of these, treating them as symbols of organic life that feeds on itself as it grows.
- Trapeze and Bungee jumping: Like birds in flight, the performers in Mystère dangle from bungee cords, descending from their trapezes in unison, with only an elastic band fastened around their waist.
- The teeterboard: Think of the thrilling teeterboard act like a see-saw for grown-ups: One acrobat leaps onto one side of the platform, propelling the other upward towards the sky, where they pull off extraordinary tricks. This act is one of the more eye-opening performances throughout Mystère.
- Hand-to-hand balancing: In a production that tackles big themes, like the meaning of life, it’s only fitting that the performances are immensely physical. The hand-to-hand balancing act is a remarkable display of strength and grace, as two powerful physiques connect through gentle movement. It’s a show of support, of what’s possible when humans come together. What’s more, the act is carried out on the surface of a rotating dome, demanding laser-focused attention and precision from the performers.
- The trapeze: Humans can fly in Mystère! And not only do they reach unbelievable heights, but they do it with grace and speed. Mystère features one of the most fast-paced, highly energetic trapeze acts to ever appear before audiences. Acrobats graze the sky, flawlessly completing over a dozen tricks in an act that runs about six minutes. The trapeze performance mimics the back-and-forth rocking movement of a pendulum, the passage of time, and how an eternity can feel like a moment and vice-versa.
From breathtaking aerial strap performances to acrobatic dance numbers, Mystère includes a series of daring feats that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. In many ways, the show contains everything that makes a Cirque du Soleil soirée so magical and awe-inspiring.
The Artistic Elements of Mystère
From biologically-charged costumes to the powerful, throbbing beats of Taïko drums—a key aspect of the production—Mystère is filled with various artistic elements designed to mesmerize, captivate, and inspire.
From the start of the first act, the vibrant costumes and intricate set design immediately evoke the beauty of nature, and all its creatures and colors. This was precisely how Costume Designer Dominique Lemieux and Set Designer Michel Crête envisioned bringing the visual elements of this story to life.
Many of the costumes are crafted from lightweight materials like spandex and lycra, allowing performers to move fluidly as they execute heroic feats. The clingy fabrics, which often mimic the look of organic matter, give the feeling of a second skin, making it easier for performers to glide, leap, stretch, and move around in.
Lemieux explains: “We tried to paint a picture of life in all its textures and colors, all its lyricism. Life is terrifically interconnected… with rhythm and chaos revealing a mysterious harmony.”
The Rhythmic Soundscapes of Drums and Taïko that Bring Mystère to Life
Like the changing of the seasons, the sound of waves crashing against the shore, even the sound of our beating hearts, biological rhythm is a part of our world. To capture this notion, show creators wanted the beat of drums to be present. One of the key set pieces of Mystère is the presence of the Taïko drums.
Hailing from Japan, Taïko drums are a wide-mouthed drum that make a thunderous beat when struck. The drums used in Mystère were exclusively manufactured by a Japanese company, Asano Taïko. The largest drum used in the production is the Ōdaiko, a drum with a staggering six-foot diameter that weighs over half a ton.
From the moment that these massive Japanese percussion instruments descend from the rafters and take the stage, they serve as the beating heart of Mystère.
Uncover All the Secrets
Want to know more? Find out everything you need to know about Mystère and its captivating storylines!
Behind-the-Scenes of Mystère
The making of Mystère: Bringing Life and Energy to the Stage
Since debuting in 1993, Mystère has captivated over 17 million people worldwide. But bringing this large-scale production to life doesn’t come easy: It requires an immense amount of commitment, dedication, and effort from our passionate cast and crew.
From intricate lighting design to complex sound engineering, every aspect of production plays a vital role in creating this sweeping universe. With over 1,200 lighting fixtures and 800 light cues, along with the miles of electrical cables lighting up the show, Mystère is truly a labor of love—one that its creators take great pride in.
Insights from the Creators and Performers of Mystère
Even the creators can agree: Mystère is the original must-see Cirque du Soleil production, combining high-octane acrobatics and dance with Taïko drumming and world music.
The idea for Mystère holds a special place in the heart of the team who’ve worked on the production. “Mystère, for me, is about life… We knew we were building this temple in the desert, in Las Vegas. When you see the fragile beauty there, you can't help but ask yourself: how did life come to this planet? Mystère, in a way, is the story of this innocent being born into the universe, and then becomes a pilgrim, exploring its history,” says Director of Mystère, Franco Dragone.
Fun Facts about Mystère
The world of Mystère is an exhilarating journey in itself. Behind the scenes, there’s even more to discover about this iconic Cirque du Soleil production.
- Did you know the Mystère Theater is designed to hold up to 1,616 fellow thrill-seekers? The theater itself was custom-built specifically to host a permanent Cirque du Soleil show—it’s over 10,000 sq. ft and is one of the few of its kind in the world. Unlike conventional theaters, which have a curtain dividing the stage and seating, the Mystère theater is wide open, which allows for the action to spill off-stage and encourages audience participation.
- Canadian Guitarist Bruce Rickerd has played in every single Mystère performance between 1993 and 2020. That’s over 12,465 shows in 17 years. He’s never missed a day of work and, in fact, holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the most theatrical performances played by a male musician!
- The musicians and singers of Mystère perform live every single night. Catch them singing their hearts out stage to the right and left side of the theater for every nightly performance.
- At over 14,000 performances since 1993, Mystère is currently Cirque du Soleil’s longest-running show.
- Due to its immense size, the largest Taïko drum, the Ōdaiko drum, had to be brought into the theater during construction, otherwise it wouldn’t have fit through the doors!
- Prior to the work they have done for Mystère, the company that manufactured the Taïko drums had never worked with an organization outside of Japan.
Planning Your Visit to Mystère
Tempted to score tickets to Mystère? Here’s what you should know before you do.
How to Make the Most of Your Experience at Mystère
When planning your visit to see Mystère, there are a few things to keep in mind to maximize your experience. Performances are held at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Get there early for audience interaction like you’ve rarely seen: A clown warms up the crowd, getting everyone into the spirit of the show.
If you prefer to be a bystander and less an active participant, just know that there is some audience interaction during Mystère. We won’t spoil the fun, but...
Ticketing and Venue Information for Mystère Performances in Las Vegas
The show runs almost every night of the week, except for on Thursdays and Sundays, with two performances taking place every night at 7:00PM and 9:30 PM, so you’re bound to find a showtime that fits into your city of Las Vegas visit.
Tickets can be purchased directly from the Treasure Island box office or on the Cirque du Soleil website. The venue offers a variety of seating options to accommodate various preferences.
Media Resources for Mystère
We’re proud to say that Mystère has been honored eight times as the “Best Production Shows” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Want to experience the mystery and magic for yourself? Simply can’t get enough Mystère? Learn more about the making of this iconic show through our webseries to see the metamorphic set design and magical costumes of this impressive production. If you can’t get enough of the soundtrack, you can tune in to the original score here.
Engage with Mystère
Let the world of Mystère waltz you through space and time. Let your perspective and worldview be forever changed by this production.
Connect with Mystère's Community Online
Follow Cirque du Soliel on our different social channels and be a part of the mystical Mystère community, where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow Cirque du Soleil fanatics and find exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes videos, too. You’re encouraged to follow along and share your experiences at the show using #MystereCirqueDuSoleil to share your favorite moments from the show.
Shop Exclusive Mystère Merchandise
Take a piece of the experience home with you. After you’ve enjoyed Mystère, visit the boutique at Treasure Island, where you can pick up a hoodie, tote bag, magnet, or mug. Whatever souvenir you stock up on, know that each item will serve as a reminder of your night at Mystère. It will no doubt evoke the awe you felt witnessing such a physically demanding, intellectually stimulating, and grand-scale production.
Want to catch Mystère? Get tickets to an upcoming performance.