Cirque du Soleil Raises Big Top at Flemington Racecourse

Following a successful season in Sydney, Cirque du Soleil's trademark blue-and- yellow big top has now been raised at Flemington Racecourse in preparation for the January 21 Melbourne premiere of TOTEM, an all-new, mesmerising acrobatic and theatrical experience.

Earlier today, a team of more than 60 men and women worked for several hours pounding pegs, unfurling the canvas and pushing up more than 100 supporting poles to raise the roof of the much loved Cirque du Soleil big top.

This is the first time that Cirque du Soleil has performed at Flemington Racecourse, an iconic Melbourne site that is synonymous with special event entertainment. The big top is located adjacent to the race track with ample on-site car parking as well as access by tram, bus and taxi.

TOTEM will be presented at Flemington Racecourse for a limited engagement from January 21, 2015. For show and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/totem.

About the big top and the Cirque du Soleil village:

The big top seats more than 2,600 people.

The entire site set-up takes 8 days. This includes installation of entrance and rehearsal tents, administrative

offices and kitchen.

The big top stands 19 metres high and is 51 metres in diameter.

550 pegs are required to hold the big top firmly to 4,506 square metres of asphalt.

TOTEM travels via 85 containers, carrying close to 2,000 tons of equipment.

About TOTEM

Since its World Premiere in 2010, more than 3 million people worldwide have been mesmerised by the intimacy and beauty of TOTEM, winner of the 2013 NYC Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. Featuring a cast of 46 acrobats, actors, musicians and singers, TOTEM is an uplifting array of athleticism, comedy, heartfelt emotions and surprising visual effects.

Written and directed by Robert Lepage, TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.