As Montreal’s famed company Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 30th Anniversary, they are getting ready to bring their new production TOTEM to Australia. To get our head around what we can expect from the new show, we will be catching up with the performers and creative minds of the show over the coming weeks. First up we are introduced to Guilhem Cauchois who’ll be dazzling us on the Trapeze.
How did you first get involved in Cirque du Soleil and what made you want to be a part of it?
It was a kid’s dream of mine to one day work for Cirque du Soleil as it is the top entertainment company in the world. I always saw it as an opportunity that would make me challenge myself to the highest level. I was attracted by the opportunity to work with the most amazing people in the industry, to travel the world and to become a better person.
What’s the hardest part about being a part of Cirque?
For me, it is neither difficult nor hard. It is for sure demanding at all levels, physically and mentally, as we perform 8 to 10 times a week and we need to be consistent and take care of our bodies accordingly. There are expectations but if you are professional and do what you have to do to meet them, life is easy. In the end, we are making 2,000 people dream every night by doing what we love to do.
What’s the best part?
There are many best parts, but simply doing the show and touching thousands of people every day is a true blessing. I also get to work with talented artists; they influence me and I have the feeling I am constantly learning and growing.
Do you have a favourite Cirque production?
I sincerely think that TOTEM is special. I live it from the inside so I see all its various dimensions and sides. It is filled with joy and happiness and the tableaux are simply gorgeous.
What can we expect from TOTEM?
People should expect to be impressed, emotionally touched, to laugh and to leave the Big Top filled with joy.
What do you think separates TOTEM from other Cirque productions?
For me, the tribal and aboriginal feel of the show brings the production back to the basics of Man. It seems to be speaking to everybody as all themes explored are part of all human beings; the show is grounded and has an earthy feel to it.
Without giving too much away, tell us a little bit about what you do in TOTEM…
I perform the Duo Fixed Trapeze act with my partner Sarah Tessier. The trapeze sits at about 7 meters in the air and doesn’t swing; I spend most of the act upside down holding the arms of my partner and making her fly and twirl around my body and the trapeze. Our act represents the discovery of young love and our characters are called the Love Birds.
Our act mixes acrobatics and acting as the audience follows the story of these two teenagers who are slowly falling in love while teasing each other and pushing each other away. It is a very playful, innocent and joyful part of the show.
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TOTEM is currently enjoying performances in Auckland, New Zealand and commences under the Big Top in Moore Park, Sydney on October 28th before touring around the country… For tickets and more details head to – http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/En/shows/totem/default.aspx – and stay tuned to the AU as we talk to more performers, the creative minds behind TOTEM and help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil with a series of articles in the weeks ahead…
