Review:- Cirque Éloize "Cirkopolis" - Manchester Opera House 2018
Review by Dariya Ibrayeva. Photos by Patrick Lazic.

IF the office life is slowly killing you and you just wish to escape from your monotonous daily routine, Cirque Éloize has that "magic pill" for you… but as with any treatment, it might not work for everyone.

On Saturday, 6 October 2018, Cirque Eloize came to Manchester's Opera House, as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, performing the "Cirkopolis." Inspired by the 1927 German futuristic film "Metropolis," "Cirkopolis" is the innovative show where fantasy defies reality. It tells the story of workers who rebel against the spirit crushing monotony of the factory city… No, you won’t find here any acts with trained animals, shows by Cirque Éloize are a blend of circus arts, theatre, dance and amazing digital projection that all make that virtuosic spectacle and festivity for the eyes.

It was my 1st introduction to this critically acclaimed Montreal based troupe and being a big fan of Cirque du Soleil, I was very excited to see Cirque Eloize, which established itself as one of the world leaders in contemporary circus. Why I love Cirque du Soleil? Probably because of that intangible magic on stage that is so characteristic of Cirque du Soleil shows. Unfortunately, I didn’t find that magic last Saturday, but you know what? As soon as I stopped comparing these 2 entertainment companies, I began to enjoy the show. Yes, it took me some time to realise that Cirque Eloize is a completely different circus. It’s modern… it’s innovative… it’s original... and it does not have to be the same like Cirque du Soleil.

But even after trying to switch off my brain and enjoy the show, I could not get rid of a feeling that something went wrong that night. The show lasted a little bit over an hour and I don’t recall seeing acts like trapeze and rope… Anyway, my personal highlights from the show were excellent diabolo performance by Arata Urawa and a spectacular balancing act by Anna Lewandowska, when she walked around in the air, never touching the floor.

It’s also worth noting about an innovative stage design. The use of video projections on the background added the touch of modernism, whilst the abundance of music and light created that festivity feeling. However, sometimes it was terribly annoying when the spotlight shined and flashed straight into the eyes, so I would not recommend this show to someone suffering from epilepsy.

So my verdict is; if you have never seen performances by Cirque du Soleil, go and see Cirque Éloize, I am sure you will enjoy it. If you are a big fan of Cirque du Soleil, don’t expect yourself to be gasping in delight. Other than that, it’s a very entertaining show, which is also a good value for money.

Fact file:-

► Directed:- Dave St-Pierre and Jeannot Painchaud.
► Choreographer:- Dave St-Pierre.
► Set Design and Video Projections:- Robert Massicotte and Alexis Laurence.
► Costumes:- Liz Vandal.
► Acrobatic Design:- Krzysztof Soroczynski.
► Lighting Design:- Nicolas Descoteaux.
► Music:- Stefan Boucher.

► Cast:- Arata Urawa, Marilou Verschelden, Anna Lewandowska, Dominique Bouchard, Seppe Van Looveren, Yann Leblanc, Klodi Dabkiewicz, Micah Ellinger, Mathew James Brown, Marina Mendoza, Isaac Salter.

½ of people in the North West don't know that diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction

NEW online research from Diabetes UK has revealed that over ½ of people in the North West did not know if diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction, a common diabetes related complication.

The poll of carried out by YouGov on behalf of Diabetes UK also showed that 45% of respondents in the Region did not know if more people in the UK have diabetes than cancer and dementia combined, while 11% said they did not know whether people with diabetes can consume any sugar at all.

The findings mark the launch of the charity's self management education platform:- 'Learning Zone,' which aims to help people understand more about diabetes and how to manage it.

There are 3.7 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 435,280 in the North West; about 90% are estimated to have Type 2 and 10% have Type 1.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body doesn't produce insulin. We don't know what causes it, but it has nothing to do with being overweight and it is not currently preventable.

Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are out of people's control, including:- age, family history and ethnic background. People who are overweight are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes, and 3 in 5 cases can be prevented with more exercise and healthy eating.

Both types can lead to complications, because high blood sugar, blood pressure and blood fats can seriously damage parts of the body including the eyes and feet, and sexual organs in both men and women. However, with the right treatment, knowledge and support people with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life.

Clare Howarth, Head of the North at Diabetes UK, said:- "On average, people with diabetes spend 3 hours a year with a healthcare professional. For the remaining 8,757 hours they manage their diabetes themselves. The lack of awareness around the impact it has on the body shapes people's approach on how to self manage. Diabetes self management education can help anyone who has been diagnosed to stay healthy, live well and avoid debilitating complications. But, it can be hard to find trusted sources of information online that actually help people safely manage their condition. That's why we created an innovative digital service to provide tailored and easy to understand advice that's been clinically approved and grounded in the latest medical research. We hope that this is the start of a new era in diabetes education where online learning can be used alongside education courses to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of complications for people with the condition."

If you are living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes you can try Learning Zone, by visiting:- Diabetes.Org.UK.