Under the Big Arena from May 1–June 22, 2025 | Tickets: cirquedusoleil.com/ovo
Step into a world where insects leap, twist, fly—and do laundry. Lots of it.
Toronto’s skyline just got a little more whimsical. Cirque du Soleil’s OVO has landed at 2150 Lake Shore Blvd. W., bringing with it the largest free-standing arena in North America. This colossal structure took a full month to build and now houses over 50 world-class performers who morph into a dazzling array of bugs every night.
OVO, which means egg in Portuguese, is a joyful celebration of insect life, infused with the electric rhythm and colour of Brazil. The show’s origins and energy are rooted in that culture—from its samba-laced soundtrack to its Carnival-esque choreography—under the visionary direction of Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker.
During a backstage tour ahead of opening night, we witnessed the sheer scale of what it takes to bring this buzzing world to life. From former Team Canada trampoline star Nathan Shuh, now playing a gravity-defying cricket, to a gliding butterfly aerialist mid-rehearsal, the cast radiates athleticism and grace in equal measure.
“This Cirque show actually began in Europe and took me over there for a bit, then the States,” said Shuh. “But this is the first time it’s in my hometown, Toronto—which is super cool, especially during the most beautiful time of year!”
Bugs, But Make It Fashion 
Designed by Montreal’s Liz Vandal, the show’s 100+ insect-inspired costumes are stunning hybrids of fashion, movement, and science fiction. Think sculpted torsos, pleated wing-like capes, and layered textures that glisten under stage lights. Each costume is custom-built for performance—durable enough for aerial flips, yet intricate enough to evoke wings, shells, or antennae.
It takes four on-site costume technicians to maintain the collection, handling quick repairs, adjustments, and a staggering 60 loads of laundry after every performance.
Behind the Leaves
Inside the arena, the stage transforms into a surreal insect landscape. A towering 19.5-metre climbing wall sprouts motorized leaves, serving as a vertical playground for acrobatic crickets. Spiders tiptoe across slacklines, and a weevil darts through bursts of colour and shadow. One highlight is the butterfly act—a blend of aerial elegance and poetic storytelling that drew audible gasps during rehearsal.
Backed by a live band and pulsing Brazilian score, OVO is an immersive fantasy—part circus, part nature documentary, and all magic.
OVO Is Not Just a Show. It’s a Vibe.
With themes of love, transformation, and community, OVO is a visual poem that shrinks us down to insect size, only to expand our sense of wonder. It’s weird. It’s whimsical. And it might just be the most joyful thing you see all season.
Catch OVO in Toronto until June 22, 2025. Tickets start at $59, with Mother’s Day and family packages available at 
cirquedusoleil.com/ovo.
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