New Scientist recommends Cirque du Soleil’s insect-themed OVO show

I’ve always thought insects deserved more appreciation, so I was excited to see a circus show dedicated to these little creatures at the Royal Albert Hall in London, as it passed by on its way to European locations.

OVOfrom Cirque du Soleil, owes its name to the Portuguese word for egg. It’s a simple story about an eccentric fly who brings an egg into a bustling ecosystem and tries to win the love of a ladybug, with the help of an insect clown. But what it lacks in intrigue it makes up for in astonishing stunts.

In one show, a contortionist spider (pictured) balances its entire body on a pole held in its mouth. In another, ants juggle fruit with just their feet. Then, in a breathtaking finale of the first half, the acrobats launch themselves with extraordinary precision from great heights. Another notable moment sees crickets climbing a trampoline and falling onto a wall.

This is a show meant to entertain the whole family and hopefully enhance our appreciation of the insects that share our world.

Carissa Wong
Journalist, London