Party-goers visit globe’s four corners

Click to enlarge
Martin Henderson at the Varekai NZ Premiere

Click to enlarge
Barbara Kendall and daughter Samantha

Click to enlarge
Petra Bagurst and Hamish Wilson

Click to enlarge
Shane Cortese, Nerida Lister and R. Scott

News release
06 January 2007

Party-goers visit globe’s four corners

Opening night antics under the Big Top at the premiere performance of Cirque du Soleil® Varekai™ continued into the night as more than 1,500 guests attended a huge after-show party at the Logan Campbell Centre.

A wide variety of New Zealand’s top faces from a mix of entertainment, politics, music, sport and business walked the Heineken green carpet, including Martin Henderson, Shane Cortese, Barbara Kendall, John Key and 2006 Heineken Open winner Jarkko Neminin.

Themed as a global village to celebrate the internationalism represented by Cirque du Soleil and presenting sponsor Heineken, the premiere party was visually divided into the four corners of the world – Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Green flames and a sensational central bar with a 3.5 metre high stage above it greeted VIP guests with entertainment provided by local and international artists led by New Zealand’s very own Mika and Joosika comprising Jason Eli, Ashley Knox and Cherie Mathieson.

Other performers included a wide variety of talent from the Budapest Gypsy Trio to African Drummers, Belly Dancers to Latin American dancers – guests even have the opportunity to see into the future with Mystic readers from around the globe presenting their predictions.

Jacqui Clement from Heineken says, “The whole idea was to celebrate the global reach of both Cirque du Soleil and Heineken – both brands embrace the world as we know it.”

Varekai is being performed at the ASB Showgrounds in Epsom under Cirque du Soleil’s signature 2,600-seat blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top).

The Australasian tour began in Sydney in August and it is the first time the show has travelled outside North America where it has already played to 3.5 million people.

Varekai pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition with acts like Icarian Games.

No two Cirque du Soleil shows are alike, and Varekai brings to Auckland acts that have never before been seen in any other Cirque du Soleil show.

Cirque du Soleil has thrilled more than 50 million people world-wide, currently presenting 12 shows simultaneously across the globe. More than 130 people travel with Varekai, including 56 artists representing 18 nationalities.

“Heineken is enjoyed by people throughout the world, crossing boundaries of language and culture. We wanted to bring this event to New Zealand audiences because Cirque du Soleil also has this ability to link people around the world through a shared experience”, says Clement.

Heineken is renowned for bringing the best of the world to New Zealand through sport, music and culture and this summer is no different with the Heineken Open and Cirque du Soleil both taking place in January.

ENDS

© Scoop Media