Cirque is back in town at Sheffield Arena

Varekai, Tales of The Forest, has five performances in the venue's intimate, theatre-style Steel Hall setting from February 2 to 5, 2017.

The show is set deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, in Varekai, an extraordinary world where something else is possible.

Cirque du Soleil say: “The sky lets go a solitary young man and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world imbued with fantastical creatures, a young man takes flight in an adventure both absurd and extraordinary.

“On this day at the edge of time, in this place of pure and undiluted possibility, begins an inspired incantation to a life rediscovered and to a newly found wonder in the mysteries of the world and the mind.”

The word Varekai (pronounced ver·ay·’kie) means “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies—the universal wanderers.

Directed by Dominic Champagne, this production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to Varekai.

Cirque du Soleil began life as a group of 20 street performers in 1984. Now the company has 4,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

Its shows have been seen by more than 160 million spectators in more than 400 cities in over 60 y countries on all continents. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Tickets for the critically-acclaimed show, updated and featuring new acts yet to be seen in the UK, will go on general sale at 9am this Friday, July 15.

Box office: go to www.sheffieldarena.co.uk, call 0114 256 56 56 or visit the venue.