We went to the O2 performance last night and having read other the other reviews I'm so glad to realise that I'm not going mad - it was so poor! I've been to 3 previous performances at the Royal Albert Hall and last night was a bitter disappointment. Historically I’ve left these events in awe, mesmerised by the apparent impossibility of the acts. Last night was only marginally better than an episode of Britain’s Got Talent. In fairness some of the acts may have been more impressive, however the use of the semi-transparent screen made viewing from the top circle almost impossible. We knew before hand we had seats in the heavens, however we didn’t bank on them making viewing even more difficult for most of the show. Further, from a slight side view we could not see a quarter of the stage and most of the aerial performances were obscured by the speakers. For those sat right at the side I’m surprised they could see anything at all – if they couldn’t, not much was missed.

Matt, London,

It would be more appropriate for Cirque Du Soliel to drop the "Circus" from their name. I didn't see not one midget, identical twins or a stong-man, not even in the audience.

Mark, London,

I travelled for 2 hours to come watch this show last night at the O2 and my god I wish i'd read this review before even buying the damn tickets! I completely agree with this review he couldn't have described it any better. It was an appalling show. I'd felt so bad that i'd brought my mum along and had to subject her to this! It was like being at a bad rock concert that just wouldn't quite bombarding you with its sheer loudness! Ok some of the graphics were impressive but that's not what i paid for. VERY disappointed with this and from the looks on the faces around the arena (which incidentally was more entertaining than the actual show) it looked as though I was not the only one feeling utterly confused and miserable.

My verdict: A. WASTE. OF. TIME.

B., Oxford,

We saw Delirum at the O2 last night..... HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT!!!!!! It was like watching High School Musical directed by someone who's just graduted from an artistic impressionist school. I sat throughout each painstaking dance rendition wondering whether I actually was watching the right show.... The few circus acts that do perform are o.k, but you're constantly distracted by an audio/visual onslaught.... The music and songs were annoying at best, and the dancing wasn't much better.... Don't waste your time or money with this, you'll be more entertained watching an ice cube melt.

A Wilcock, London,

Yup, I agree with most of what has been said. I think making the whole thing a dream was just an excuse to throw anything on stage, from Africa to Brazil. It was like some awful Euro-musical. That being said, the few times that the acrobats were on stage were impressive. But it badly needed a narative and more action and excitiment. Thank God I was given a free ticket.

David, London,

for real, cirque du crap. not sure what they were thinking with this production.

Justis, London,

Have just been to the show at the O2 and I couldn't agree more with the comments above. My son and I were expecting a good show in the usual style of Cirque but instaead got dished up a totally uninspiring and lifeless performance. We only stuck it out an hour and left as did a fair few other peole. After spending £100 for the venig we were bothe really dissapoited with what we got.

Jim Willett, Dartford, England

I attended Delirium last night at London's o2 and it was shockingly bad. Most of the show appeared to be unchoreographed with performers dancing about and doing their own thing on stage to a relentless rock opera soundtrack. Like watching a fake 'rave' scene in a 1980's episode of Midsummer Murders....but for 2 hours! The aerial acrobatic performances were very few and far between and the silks, hoop and acrobalance had all been seen in a million formats before. The music was appalling, really cheesy power ballads with a relentless euro-beat or faux africana with all the usual stereotypes of fecundity rolled out on stage. it doesn't help that the o2 has very little atmosphere and an air conditioning system that hums like relentless white noise in your brain. There is no interval but don't worry, the o2 doesn't hold with the tradition of respecting performances and so people are allowed to just walk around, up and down the aisles throughout the show so you can leave when you like

Jane Donne, London,

Sadly, I couldn't agree more with Sam's article. My only previous experience of Cirque was some years ago, having watched them tumble, flip and lift across a four way stage as a one off variety performance on televison. This left me speechless; a highly skilled and mesmerising performance, as breath taking for it's acrobatic ability as the complimenting content itself.
Expecting a similar show last night, my concerns started when the stage didn't appear to be big enough to house any extreme acrobatics. After an hour of impressive, if not distracting imagery projected on big screens (which often obscured the performers themselves), I had become fed up and irritated by the two main characters (man on stilts: annoying and pointless, man dangling from balloon; a 'performer'??) and spent the majority of the time waiting for advanced gay caboret to end and real stuff to start. It's a shame the few strong acts - and there were two - were diluted by such surreal nonsense. Disappointing.

Esther Hardie, Southampton, Hants

I am absolutely bewildered by the responses that have been posted here. How can their experience have been so different to mine?
After seeing Cirque du Soleil in Belfast's Odyssey last night I left utterly mesmerised by what I had just seen. It was phenomenally good. The show was given a standing ovation, and from the opening minute was a mind-blowing spectacle, the music and sound design incredible. Perhaps there have been even better shows, and others are comparing this latest one to those. This was my first experience of the Cirque, and I absolutely cannot wait for them to return here again with their next incarnation.
The wording of some of the above "reviews" might give a certain explanation as to why these others did not enjoy the show. It is not for everyone, and may be frustrating and confusing for those expecting narrative coherence, or for those who do not care to simply be amazed. If, however, you want to sit drenched in spectacle, your imagination will be left vibrating

Leonard Niblock, Belfast, Northern Ireland

I am a huge Cirque fan, and have been to about 7 different shows, when I saw that it was coming to Glasgow I had no hesitation in parting with £55 each for 2 tickets ... We could not have been more disappointed with this show - Wr left after one hour and was approached by staff who asked why we were leaving - when we explained that the show was like watching a bad 80's music video, both visually and the cocktail bar singers, the graphics on the screen were blurred, the acrobatic scenes were almost non existant...etc, the member of staff informed us that they had never had to deal with so many walk outs and complaints!!! I would not have paid £5 for this show, and I will be checking the reviews before booking any others.......I would say, however, that the LOVE show at Mirage in Las Vegas is the finest piece of theatre I've ever seen, and would encourage anyone to go and see the "real" shows in Vegas, as those will not disappoint!!

claire mitchell, edinburgh ,

Thankfully our seats in Glasgow were near the aisle. We were so let down by the show and what it has become. The visual imagery is stunning but that's it. The majority of the show is full of weak songs by show type singers. Any good acts were diluted with other non acrobatic performers on the stage. We can't speak for the last hour because we left. Fuerzabrtuta and Cirque Surreal you have nothing to worry about artistically

ian, Glasgow,

I am very glad I read these reviews before I went to last night's performance of Delirium in Glasgow, otherwise I would have been extremely disappointed. The show was pretentious, pointless and, in the main, boring. Although the gymnastics/acrobatics/hoop twirling were individually impressive, they were swamped by everything else that was going on. What was the point of that awful clown? I felt flat and irritated throughout the show, and I normally love live theatre, from musicals to local amateur panto. I am also angry at the amount of money my family spent on tickets for something so mediorce, in terms of storyline and connection with the audience. And 10 pounds for a programme!! Although I have been assured that Cirque du Soleil's other shows, such as Love, are far more spectacular and exciting, I don't think I'm going to take the chance with this brand again.

Katie, Edinburgh,

I was incredibly disappointed with last nights show in glasgow,having spent a lot of money on a ticket and travelled to get there with a great deal of excitement and anticipation....over produced, too many special effects, dreadful music, and hardly any actual acrobatics ( though those that did feature were amazing, sadly it seemed like only about 10 %of the entire show). The venue was all wrong, from the back seats it was like watching ants running around manically. I felt unmoved, unexcited and generally cheesed off...what i had hoped for was a once in a life time experience an d i suppose i got that because i will not make the effort to go see them again sadly

mairianderson, edinburgh,

If you love Cirque, don't bother with this. This is no Cirque du Soleil, but a shadow of it’s name sake. It’s like they sold the name to some festival troupe who want to get in on the reputable name that used to mean so much.

If I wanted to see miss mash of contemporary dance, dodgy rockers and quite frankly below standard acts, I would have gone to my local amateur dramatics society; at least I would have saved the £60 and the 400 mile round trip.

I am not going to bother with seeing a travelling Cirque production in future. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll save your pennies and join me in Vegas and see what truly is the essence of the Cirque du Soleil.

The Cirque is dead, long live the Cirque.

Tanya Davies, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK

Was incredibly disappointed with this show. If I'd wanted to see a music concert I'd have booked to see a band of my choosing. Average music performances (like some kind of hotel cabaret) and not enough "circque". The few scenes where there were acrobatics were great, but unfortunately they were few and far between. The NIA was a very poor venue - we paid £60 for supposedly the best tickets but views were terrible. Don't waste your money!

sue , Lichfield, UK

myself mum and little one went to the sheffield arena for the sunday afternoon performance. i had never seen it before only heard fantastic reports from friends and family. It was the worst show i have ever seen. I could not wait for it to finish. I have seen better circus acts at a £4 local circus. It is the most i have ever paid and the last time i will ever book anything with out researching it first.
terrible waste of money it was awful!

Heidi Hobson, SHEFIELD, SOUTH YORKSHIRE

The whole premise behind a CDS show is imagination. You have use it to watch it. The show itself was great, I saw it in Miami Florida in April. I guess you just have to be able to understand the concept of an imagination before you go. The musicians were fantastic, coupled with the imagery on the screens left you feeling like you too were in a dream experienceing the same feelings as the main character. Overall I have seen many CDS shows both in Las Vegas and on the road. Each one of them has their own unique appeal, you just have to have the open mind to see it. Keep up the great work CDS!

Chris, Toronto, Canada/Ontario

what a rip off we paid £55 each for seats at the NIA Birmingham and could not see properly,not that we wanted to ,it was most disappointing,after seeing the cirque du soleil in Toyko in April which was brilliant this was a complete letdown.Needless to say we left before it finished.

Kay, Darlington,

Delirium (Sunday afternoon in Sheffield) was so very poor it beggers belief that CDS let it on the road with their brand identity. My reason for saying this is that with CDS shows previously being so good maybe, just maybe, someone from CDS will cut short the Delirium tour and fundamentally rebuild the show before further damage is done to their previously great brand and image. Delirium was our fourth CDS show and we too feel we will never attend another CDS show. Over the years we have told many, many friends and relations about the wonders of CDS. Unfortunately now we are telling everyone not to attend CDS unless they enjoy being ripped off.

G Moss, St Arvans (near Chepstow), Wales

Allegria, Dralion, La Nouba and Saltimbanco, just wonderful. The essence of Cirque is innocence, humour, colour, enervating music and above all human endeavour that leaves us breathless. Saltimbanco caused me to go back for a second night to transcribe the funk riff that accompannied 'Juggling' for my band. Having booked ten tickets for family and godchildren to relive what I had hoped was a similar production, we were profoundly disappointed at this show. Monochromatic, urban and depressing, there was no sparkle or real wit, audience involvement or happiness, pathos, gymnastic or musical excellence whatsoever. Although the whole show was cleverly crafted, the aesthetic sense of the designers must be questioned as they lost the audience entirely. I hope they read the reviews and think again. They have made a fortune out of a flawed spectacle, If it were me I would have been sacked. I went to be uplifted and came out depressed - It was not fun and cost me £600.

Ian 7 string bass, Wolverhampton, UK

I took my whole family to the show at the Sheffield Arena on Sunday after months of eager anticipation. I cannot add anything positive to the above comments. I will never go to a local Cirque show again. Where were the multiple acrobats and stunning displays of timing, the wire acts and human spinning rings. Such a departure into mediocre modern dance is a disaster. I hope CDS press team are reading these reviews.

Scott Glave, Shefield

Scott Glave, Sheffield, UK

i have seen Quiddan and Saltimbanco both brilliant shows, however I feel that Delirium is only riding on the back of Cirque du Solieils reputation, after 20 minutes of waiting for something to actually happen I was bored after 40 minutes I'd lost the will to live and apart from being to polite to ask everyone to move for me would have left. What a waste of my hard earned money. Jacky Collins, Merseyside

jacky collins, newton le willows, merseyside

Saw the Birmingham NIA show - very expensive - £60 for a distant view -and very disappointing. A previous Cirque show at Star City was the best live show I've ever seen - this was a second rate song and dance show and the "circus" factor of ,which they were the worlds best, was almost non existant. Delirium is a sort of poor Riverdance clone with rock music. Somebody please shoot that guy on the balloon! Yes costumes and theatre are very much part of a Cirque performance but... no circus..? I feel that I've been had and I that Cirque are living on their reputation which must have been damaged by this fiasco. I hope they take note and get back to what they are renowned for. Sadly folks will not want to pay dearly to watch another Cirque performance now.
The NIA tier seats are a DVT disaster waiting to happen. The little leg room is completely blocked by a metal board that is part of the construction system; one cannot stretch ones legs at all.Horribly uncomfortable and cramp inducing.

Mick, Solihull, West Midlands

I've also seen a number of other Cirque shows and delirium was always advertised as a 'Musical' event more akin to a rock show than a normal cirque performance and that's exactly what it was, I loved it. How anyone can critisise the band is beyond me, the musicians and vocalists were brilliant , especially the drummers. Yes it was loud, yes it was brash but that's what rock shows are. Maybe the 'dissapointed' people should read the advertising, or check out some reviews before they go to another show

Mike , Cannock,

how disappointing to hear this isn't good. I saw 'Varekai' in Sydney recently, and thought it was superb. The venue was excellent, which probably helped.

nick b, london,

We saw Cirque last time around at Star City and were excited about seeing this production. How v disappointed we were.

The show was nothing remotely like the prevous Cirque - in fact the few circus acts that appeared were the highlights of a boring show.The noise, awful music,disjointed images all added to an empty experience.

My children far enjoyed the traditional circus we saw on holiday in Gt Yarmouth for a quarter of the price - which left us full of the awe and magic of a real circus not the pretenscious
arty show offered here.

I think Cirque should go back to what they are good at and stop fooling people into parting with good money for shows that leave you totally empty and feeling you have wasted a good evening

Donna Bright, Walsall, West - Midlands

Cirque du Soleil's Delirium


I wholeheartedly agree with all the other comments, utterly, utterly disappointing and oh so boring. I paid for the whole family to go because I was so enthusiastic about previous performances, I feel completely ripped off. I also found the venue (Birmingham NIA) utterly disappointing too, far too big, my husand's and son's knees knocking into the seat in front, a staging bar right where their feet should be, and oh so hot!

Sue Harvey
Wimborne

sue harvey, Wimborne, Dorset

We saw Delirium yesterday at Sheffield. It was out first 'live' Cirque show and we had been looking forward to it for months. They started 20 mins late which puts you off before it's started. What a disappointment ! Where were the fabulous costumes and make-up? There was absolutely nothing to make you say "Wow, that's amazing". A 'rock' band and dancers with a few gymnasts. I kept waiting for something to happen but it never did. The dancers were wearing boring mens suits which they eventually took off on stage to reveal - wait for it - white dresses of the sort Mums make for their kids school play.
What a waste of £120 ! I would have much preferred to stay home and watch my Allegria DVD.
Cirque have become too greedy for their own good.

Denise, Leeds,

I just got back from seeing Delirium in Sheffield. Did any of your reviewers see the same fabulous show as me? Having been a Cirque fan for many years we were a little apprehensive at this new-style venture into the concert arena. We shouldn't have been. It was a perfect blend of the now-traditional Cirque format with an arena tour rock gig; precisely as advertised. All the beauty, the artistry and the humour that we normally associate with Cirque du Soleil was present in abundance in this joyous remix.

Shaun Finnie, Sheffield,

Delerium, more like Disaster! Went to the NIA lastnight to see the show, and can't begin to describe how rubbish it was. This is a real car crash of a show!
The young lad sitting in front of me, curled up and went to sleep halfway through - i was jealous, i wish i could have done the same, although how he slept through that din is beyond me. I hope CDS are reading some of these comments and take head, or their bubble will burst. I only wish the bubble that the guy was suspended from lastnight would have burst, and he'd have landed on the band - at least that would have provided some entertainment, and silenced that dreadfull performance.
I feel really sorry for all the famillies there lastnight. We have taken my daughter to previous show's and loved them. I'm so glad she didn't come lastnight and have to sit through that. What were the handfull of people who stood up to applause thinking, were they watching the same show - DON'T GO

AndyC, Stafford, UK

This show is such a disappointment It could be cut to an hour without losing anything except running around looking 'artistic', The effects look good from a distance but the performance is not of the standard you would expect from from Cirque Du Soleil. There maybe 20 mins that are good the rest looks like a first year art/drama students project. I have never been so bored at a show and really angry that I'd spent over £120 and promised my girlfriend a great night out. The fact they charge £60 a ticket is the only thing that left me in disbelief. I would have felt overcharged if I'd paid £10.

Robert Osborne, Llantwit Major, Wales

Just got back from the NIA in Birmingham after seeing this show. It was our first time eeing Cirque Du Soleil so we were really excited. What a complete and utter load of rubbish. I never ever leave feedback on review sites but I am so angry at wht was the most poorest, dreadful, dull, boring show I have ever ever seen in my life. Several people got up and left fter around 20 minutes ( wish I had too ) but we stayed until the end as we were expecting it to get better. It didn't !! Applause was very weak as already stated, ( I did not clap once ). The screen across the the front of the stage was awful as it distorted everything and made you feel like you needed to have a eye test. I am so so so angry and just wish I could tell them how awful the show was. Don't waste your money on this show folk's as you will be ery very disapointed. I was willing it to end and the 1 hour 45 minute show felt like it lasted hours and hours, and when it finished I was so relieved. Rating 0 out of 10

Ian PG, Tamworth, UK

Just got back fron the NIA Birmingham. Having seen Alegria and Dralion, expectations were high: we were looking forward to an evening of human endeavour at the closest it gets toperfection but sadly, with minimal acrobatics and too much emphasis on remixed songs which were weak versions of the the originals, the magic has been lost.

Steven C., Birmingham,

We've just got back from Delerium at the NIA and it was so embarassingly awful I felt compelled to search out some reviews for it. There was too much monotonous music, too much dancing and not enough of the things about Cirque du Soleil that make you go wow. For parts of the show there was a mesh screen in front of the performers on to which images were projected, but from where we were sitting in the 5th row it made you feel like you had cataracts. There were two stunning performers - the girl with the ball, and the girl with the hula hoops but the rest of it just blended into ...well delerium, you just wondered what on earth was going on!

I'd consider myself a CDS fan having seen 7 other shows but this felt like a case of the emporer's new clothes.

Bev Davenport, Sutton Coldfield, UK

Just returned from Birmingham NIA having experienced the spectacular disappointment that is Cirque's Delirium. A random, mismatched and confusing set of scenes and acts all under the camouflage of bizarre video imagery which in some instances left you feeling dizzy. Add to that music and songs performed far too loudly for comfort.
The applause during the performance seemed polite rather than enthusiastic and there were many negative comments voiced on the way out. Having seen Cirque's Saltimbanco a few years ago which we really enjoyed, this production of Delirium was a let down and to add insult to injury cost £180 for three of us!

Christine S., Sutton Coldfield, UK

We were at the NIA last night too - and agree with the negative comments. Previously we saw Cirque with Saltimbanco a few years back and I was so looking forward to seeing them again. What a terrible let down - last night's show was a spectacle of pretentious style over substance - we kept waiting for something to happen but it never did. Where were the breathtaking tumblers and the hot shot aerial performers? Instead we got a mediocre quasi rock band and an insultingly small cast of performers, dwarfed by the huge stage set and meaningless projected imagery. I know the NIA is a soul less place at the best of times but I thought it would be of a size for Cirque to make an impact - they didn't. Oh and the seating arrangement was lousy too!

Jill Hogan, Stourbridge,

A spot-on review. I've seen CdS twice before in this country, and three shows in Las Vegas in January ('O'. Mystere and Love) all of which were superb. I saw Delirium last night in Birmingham and it was so disappointing. The music was bland, theatricals boring and video's irritating. There were one or two performers who were excellent but overall I wish I'd stayed at home and saved the £240 it cost for me and my three kids. Certainly not worth the standing ovation some punters gave it. Four out of ten max!

Paul R., Dudley, England

Saw Delirium last night at NIA, Birmingham. What a spectacular disappointment ! Songs, of which there were a lot, were rubbish. The occasional piece of great acrobatics just made you think why isn't there more of this rather than all the rubbish. The general life/death overall theme didn't work either.
A poor show which could have been much better.

Clare Rogers, Welshpool, Wales

I agree with all of the above. I cannot properly describe our utter disappointment. I was willing it to end because it was pretentious, noisy rubbish. A few people around me where saying how good it was - were they watching the same thing as me? I can only take so much visual tech, drumming, dancing and Euro-pop twaddle. At one point a lady rose up high on a wire and her dress was stretched out at four corners - we all thought that acrobats or such like were going to do something spectaculor on it - but no - it was backlit and more dancers treated us to dancing silhoutettes. We were thinking of going to London to see Varekai but this production has put me off. I have read the reviews of Varekai and it is a typical Cirque show that we have all come to love. I am so glad that I didn't take anyone with me that hadn't seen a Cirque before otherwise they would never want to see another one after seeing Delirium.

J Moss, Bebington, Wirral

Big disappointment. Where previously the name Cirque Du Soleil induced ticket purchasing abandon, now they have utterly lost that high place they so deservedly earned in the past. Not a total disaster, with interesting imagery and a successful blend of dance, acrobatics and visual effects, they just need to drop the focus on the second rate music and singing.

Andy Noble, Manchester, UK

We saw Delirium in Manchester last night, and left very disappointed. What makes Cirque du Soleil unique is that they are different to everyone else and they are better than everyone else. Last night's performance was neither different nor better. Too much singing, not enough acrobatic stunts which bring gasps to the audience and applause for more, and none of the fantastic costumes and wonderfully made up faces which are special to Cirque du Soleil. We saw none of that last night, the applause was weak and the audience were moving around all the time, going for drinks, food etc which shows they were bored. Hope their next show goes back to more of the original acrobatic acts, because they are the best!

Cath Orr, Lancs,