Last week the circus rolled into Manchester and transformed the city into an acrobatic playground. But it wasn't just any circus, we're talking the crème de la crème of circuses - none other than Cirque Du Soleil.
I've seen many gigs at the AO arena, but this was one of the best. From the moment I entered I felt as though I'd plunged into a book and walked into an ethereal fairy tale. The Corteo show promised an evening full of gravity-defying acrobatics, enviable costumes and enough laughs to last you into 2023.
It certainly didn't disappoint. The narrative of the story, which centred around an elderly clown, wasn't entirely easy to follow (especially after a couple of glasses of wine), but you know what? It really, really didn't matter.
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Each act provided something memorable. There was slapstick comedy and gravity defying acrobatics. From trapeze artists flying into each others arms, to one performer balancing on a ridiculously long ladder, to a hilarious Romeo and Juliet skit.
An obvious favourite with the audience was Valentina - who appeared throughout the show in various different roles - each time leaving the audience grinning from ear to ear. At one point, Valentina found herself tied to some MASSIVE balloons, and floated around the AO arena with the audience's help.
The balloon act saw audience members who had come in as strangers laughing and smiling together. This is always the sign of a successful show, and I applaud Cirque Du Soleil for managing that - especially in Manchester, where many people keep themselves to themselves.
I was particularly enthralled by the costumes, which have been intricately designed by Dominique Lemieux. As a fashion editor, I probably pay more attention than most to costumes in productions, but these were pieces of art anyone can appreciate.
Designed by Dominique Lemieux, the costumes had a baroque feel, which combined perfectly with the beautifully hand-painted set - which had been designed by Jean Rabasse.
Speaking about the show's launch in Manchester, Michael T Veilleux, Senior Tour Director for Corteo said: “It was a night of landmarks for Corteo - our first time in Manchester, our 100 th show since relaunch and as always, 100% AMAZING!”
Corteo at AO Arena was probably one of the most magical nights of my life. With the stresses of life proving a daily drain on many of us, it was exactly the type of magical experience I needed to forget about all of my problems - albeit for a few hours.
I would happily go back time and time again, and I suggest you give it a go too.
You can buy Corteo tickets here.
