I’ve had my fair share of wild on-set experiences, but shooting for the legendary Cirque Du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall definitely tops the list. Imagine Victorian grandeur colliding with futuristic cyberpunk, all during a blistering London heatwave. It was every bit as surreal as it sounds—and just as exhilarating.
The shoot landed on what felt like the hottest days in recorded history, right in the middle of the Proms. That meant night shoots, and let me tell you, trying to sleep through over 40-degree heat in the daytime was no joke. I practically barricaded myself in a dark room with fans going full blast, hoping to catch a few hours of shut-eye before heading back on set.
We were there to promote Cirque Du Soleil’s new show, Kurios—a steampunk fever dream where Victorian elegance meets dystopian sci-fi, and every costume outdoes the last. My absolute favourite was the madcap ‘Plunger’ (, who ended up stealing the show in our film (I’ll get to him in a moment…)
Navigating the Royal Albert Hall was a mission in itself. Its winding corridors saw me clocking up over 50,000 steps in a single night, keeping pace with the shoot’s demands. But it was worth it. Everything went brilliantly, and the performers had this infectious energy that made every scene pop.
Then things took a turn for the truly bizarre. We got a last-minute request to film the Plunger character in central London for social media. With barely any budget, I found myself donning the Plunger costume and wandering around Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. Only later did it dawn on me that everyone could see my face behind the mask… Talk about surreal, especially when I, dressed as some wacky Victorian robot, saw Boris Johnson heading to Parliament. I’m pretty sure he thought I was part of a very strange protest!
Looking back, the Cirque Du Soleil project was a whirlwind of sweat, spectacle, and unforgettable moments. It perfectly sums up what our industry is all about—waves of creativity, a dash of chaos, and a whole lot of excitement.
