Celebrities step on to the red carpet for Kooza’s opening night

Popstars, presenters and supermodels mingle backstage London – Caroline Kent The stars and their families were out in force for the opening night of Cirque du Soleil's new show ‘Kooza’ at London’s Royal Albert Hall this week. Opera star Katherine Jenkins made an entrance in a short black dress and curly blonde locks, before retreating from the paps. It was no wonder she was keen to hotfoot it inside as her ex Gethin Jones arrived with his new blonde beau Susie Amy just minutes after Jenkins. The two former lovers avoided each other at the VIP bar, where Katherine enjoyed a girl’s night with her bezzie whilst Gethin mingled with popstars including members of Take That and a newly brunette Holly Valance, alongside TV stalwarts Jeremy Clarkson and Carol Voderman, and supermodel Eva Herzigova.
The celebs (most with their kids in-tow) feasted on compressed melon and olive canapés backstage before heading to the Royal Albert Hall’s boxes to chomp on pink-tinted popcorn and enjoy the rather raucous show.
Over a decade ago, Cirque du Soleil creator and director David Shiner envisioned a spectacle that would enthrall and delight by "capturing the spirit of the clown". Ten years later, the show has arrived in London for its European premiere. From the trio of eye-watering intermingling women with spines like a slinky and triceps of steel, to the quartet of high wire cyclists, to the trampoline see-saw stilt stunts, the performances were death-defying, heart-pounding and visually stunning. And of course a tad cheesy, but who doesn’t love having a confetti canon explode in their face once in a while?
Until February 14. For tickets visit www.royalberthall.com.