ASTANA – Cirque du Soleil’s acclaimed production OVO captivates audiences in the Kazakh capital from June 4-7 at Barys Arena, delighting both adults and children with its colorful, insect-inspired world. Blending acrobatics, music, and visual storytelling, the show transformed the everyday lives of tiny creatures into a spectacular theatrical experience.
One day before the official Kazakhstan premiere of OVO, the Cirque du Soleil team offered media representatives a rare look behind the scenes of one of the world’s most celebrated productions. On June 3, OVO by Cirque du Soleil hosted a special event for a limited group of invited guests.
Members of the media were granted access to their backstage – an area closed to audiences – allowing them to experience firsthand the atmosphere and preparation behind one of the world’s most renowned live performances, reported the Cirque’s press service. According to Janie Mallet, Senior Touring Publicist on OVO by Cirque du Soleil, Cirque du Soleil was founded in Canada in 1984, and its mission has always been to inspire imagination, evoke emotions, and awaken the senses of audiences around the world.
“We previously visited Kazakhstan in 2017, and now, in 2026, we are bringing OVO – a production that Kazakh audiences have never seen before. We are delighted to be here with our entire team,” she said. OVO is a story told through the fascinating world of insects, butterflies, ants, crickets, spiders, beetles, and many other inhabitants of this lively microcosm come to life on stage.
Through their adventures, the show explores themes of love, friendship, transformation, and coexistence, turning the everyday lives of tiny creatures into a spectacular theatrical experience. All 53 performers in the production appear as insect characters. A large international team of 100 people, including both performers and technical staff, has arrived in Kazakhstan for the tour.
OVO performers and aerial acrobats Arthur Dudov and Esmira Kuliyeva highlighted the production’s international scope and the physical demands of their butterfly act. Dudov described Cirque du Soleil as the best circus company he has worked for, noting that OVO brings together 53 performers from 25 countries who speak 17 languages.
He added that the show’s nonverbal storytelling makes it accessible to audiences of all ages and nationalities. Kuliyeva said their act conveys the message that even the most delicate creatures can be strong and brave. She noted that the performance requires a high level of strength and precision, with complex aerial elements and balance-intensive sequences that rely entirely on physical conditioning.
During the tour, journalists also watched a segment of the Diabolos act, which takes place in a mysterious nocturnal world of insects. In the scene, a solitary weevil chases glowing fireflies while the interplay of light and shadow creates a truly magical atmosphere on stage.
OVO was directed and choreographed by Brazilian artist Deborah Colker. Her creative signature can be felt throughout the production – from the energetic Brazilian-inspired music and colorful costumes to the performers’ movement, the scenic design, and the overall atmosphere of the show.
Guests were introduced to the production’s remarkable stage design, one of the show’s defining features. Set designer Gringo Cardia drew inspiration from the structures insects create when building their nests and colonies. Throughout the performance, the stage environment continuously transforms, shifting from a forest to a cave and then into a mysterious dwelling.