Cirque du Soleil brings surprising new twists under the Big Top with ECHO, a story of
connection, intention, and the symbiotic unions between humans and the animal kingdom.
Fueled by the power of change, the hope of the youth, and the value of empathy, ECHO follows
an inquisitive young woman named FUTURE as she wanders into a fantasy world that explores
our sacred bond with animals and nature.
When FUTURE and her best friend the DOG encounter a mysterious CUBE, they quickly learn
how their actions have the power to shape this world, and if we come together, we can rebuild
our planet to create the world we all want to live in.
Cirque du Soleil’s 20th Big Top show brings bold new visuals and a unique aesthetic on tour.
Packed with vibrant characters, inspiring music, astounding lights and projections, and never-
before-seen acrobatic feats, ECHO invites audiences on a journey through a universe of color,
wonder, and infinite possibilities.
THE CONCEPT
The underlying theme of ECHO is the symbiotic connection between humans and the natural
world. The show explores how the actions of man can ripple out to the animals and planet we
treasure so much.
“ECHO” is a fitting title because the audience discovers this effect in different metaphors
throughout the show.
We experience an echo through humanity and the way our actions have a resounding impact on
the surrounding world. This concept is brought to life by how artists and characters interact with
the CUBE. As the massive structure is extracted and rebuilt, we come to understand that
empathy and compassion can restore our relationship with animals and the natural world, and
ultimately lead us to a space of hope, love, and connection.
An echo is also expressed through choreography. Many of the show’s performances are
inspired by the notion of repetition, telling stories through continuous movement, and exploring
the dynamic between organic, free-moving animals and the structured uniformity of scientific
thinking.
As Author-Director Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar says, “I think it’s important when people come
to ECHO to be blown away by the performances and acrobatics, and at the same time, I want
them to leave feeling empowered.”
WHAT SETS IT APART
ECHO is the 20th Big Top creation from Cirque du Soleil and its 51st overall, with a cast of 51
artists representing 19 different nationalities. Several of the cast and crew of ECHO have been
involved in other Cirque du Soleil productions, including Volta, MJ ONE, OVO, and many more.
Even the Author-Director was originally an artist in The Beatles LOVE.
This is the first ever Cirque du Soleil show to feature 6 live vocalists, with most of the musicians
also singing at some part in the show. As one might expect from a show titled “ECHO,” each
performance builds on a repetition of sound effects, but with a slightly different intention
depending on the emotional curve in the show. Taken together, these unique sounds have a
huge effect on the storytelling and audio experience for the audience.
In addition to the impressive music in the show the shows’ sets are truly remarkable. A full
performance of ECHO pushes the envelope with 5 acrobatic winches and 3 double lines that
can support 2 artists each. The mysterious CUBE at the heart of the show is essentially the size
of a 2-story apartment building that rotates on the central pivot, moving from upstage to
downstage, and even floating above stage. ECHO uses an impressive 10 video projectors to
cover the CUBE, the stage, and the artists, which marks the most ever for a Cirque du Soleil Big
Top show.
Don’t miss your chance to see ECHO by Cirque du Soleil Under the big top at Sam Houston
Race Park! Opening February 6th. Tickets are on sale now at www.Cirquedusoleil.com/echo.
