Past shows that  I've seen in  Circus du Soleil filmography have always been original stories created purely for the purpose of showcasing the circus skills of their talented stars. Knowing that this one could potentially be somewhat constrained by an already-existing storyline, and one that is very "Hollywood" at that (i.e. big budget + effects), was a bit worrying, considering if would be the first show of their’s that my friend and I were going to see live. But allay any similar fears you may have - for this famed circus troupe has the budget to match, and they're the perfect guides to lead you back to Pandora!

Set 3000 years before the original film, Toruk - First Flight is essentially a prequel. Based in the same lands, the story follows Ralu and Entu - two boys who have been raised as brothers within the Omaticaya clan. As in the film, the sacred Memory Tree becomes threatened, and these two heroes set off on a quest to find what will save it. Along the way they pick up a third - Tayal of the Tawkami Clan, who is renowned for her skills in alchemy.

Aside from the narration that is delivered in English by 'The Storyteller', all other communication is in the language of the Na'vi. The inability to understand their spoken words, but to have it sound so lovely on the ear, only contributes to the setting of the scene. Which, as is to be expected with this company, is nothing short of stunning!

When I first walked in I was underwhelmed by the set, which turned out to be one of my most naive moments to date. We are  quickly transported back into the forest that we remember from a distant planet, and over the following 2 hours we experience volcanos, running rivers, soaring through the skies, and changing landscapes that bring us encounters with many of the Pandorian animals. The Austrapede, Turtrapede, Direhorse and Viperwolf are all brought to life through beautiful puppets, and the appearance of The Great Tobruk is in wonderful contrast with Pandora's blue hues. The Tawkami flower scene is particularly stunning, and the Atokirina - woodsprites, or the 'seeds' of the Tree of Life - send breaths of awe around the arena. 

If you're particularly looking for close-ups of circus skills - like what you'd see in one of Cirque du Soleil's films, or in a small tented venue where you can see the perspiration dripping off the performers as they contort - this might not be the show for you. This is an arena that seats over 10 000 people, and the show has been created to cater to that. The costumes, the staging, the lighting and sound all set a scene that is an absolute visual feast. Toruk - First Flight is first and foremost a further descent into Pandora. Which just happens to be inhabited by, arguably, the best circus performers in the world. Every single person who steps on to that stage has crazy mad, awe-inspiring circus skills. You're just not going to get to see it all. Often at times the skills are spread out across the stage; to be watching one performer means you're not watching anywhere from a few to 10 or 20 others. And visual spectaculars are distracting. You're not going to be able to identify which individual performers are the aerialists, and which ones are the tumbling experts when they come back on stage for a later scene.

But if you're anything like me, you will be brought to the edge of your seat, and exclaim in awe like a child. You will be surprised that you can hear so much appreciation from the crowd when you're sitting in such a huge, cavernous space (clapping and cheers are much better amplified in small, contained boxes of venues), and flashbacks of the visual effects will still have you shaking your head in admiration 24 hours later. If you want hours of an amazing show that reminds you exactly why the evolution of "nouveau cirque" has been so damn popular, then this show is for you!  If you've already been to one of their shows, I wouldn't be surprised if your tickets are already booked to see Toruk. But if you haven't seen them yet - go and see just why these guys are such a big deal.

By Tanya Green