written and directed by
victoria thierrÉe chaplin
main season | roda theatre
extended! must close january 31
Running time: 70 minutes, no intermission
the play
Welcome to Aurélia’s Oratorio, where the impossible happens before your eyes. Aurélia Thierrée literally grew up in the circus and has charmed audiences around the world with this dazzling display of stage illusion. Behind her velvet curtain lies a surreal world of surprises, a topsy-turvy time of tricks and transformations. “She does wonder wonderfully,” gushes the London Guardian. With dancing, puppetry, acrobatics and more, Aurélia’s Oratorio is an inventive adventure set to a quirky score of chamber music and gypsy jazz. Berkeley Rep unveils this 70-minute spectacle, a concoction of mystery and fantasy for the whole family.
the players
Aurélia Thierrée grew up in show business, performing in intimate troupes that introduced the idea of cirque nouveau. She works as an actor, acrobat and illusionist in film, theatre and cabaret—most recently collaborating with the Tiger Lillies—and has given sold-out shows from London to Hong Kong.
Victoria Thierrée Chaplin, along with her husband Jean Baptiste Thierrée, created Cirque Bonjour, Cirque Imaginaire and Cirque Invisible, innovative troupes that inspired Cirque du Soleil.
the buzz
“A whimsical feat for all…Part nouvelle circus, part vaudeville of illusions, part fantastical free association…The moment [Aurélia] makes her first appearance—one possibly disconnected hand, foot or leg at a time—she has the audience at her intricately inventive mercy…Oratorio is packed with enough delights for a show twice as long…It’s like a Christmas stocking stuffed with one gift after another.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Top-notch family entertainment…Not only is it tremendously well executed, but the various scenes are performed with a tremendous amount of ability and intense engagement with the audience…An effervescent blend of hilarious innovation and old-fashioned knock-your-socks-off entertainment!”—Bay Area News Group
“A delightful holiday production…A world of wonderment and impossibilities—from illusions, dancing, aerial stunts and puppetry to tricks of physical dexterity…And it’s all performed with plenty of great humor while keeping you mesmerized by the cleverness of the talented cast. I’ve never seen anything quite like it as it combines a bit of circus, magic and comedy in one show and performed at breakneck speed. It’s perfect for the whole family, and your little ones will never have an attention deficit—it really moves. Don’t miss Aurélia’s Oratorio.”—KGO-AM
“She balances whimsy and wit, childlike wonder and adult elan, throughout her quietly magical show…Her grace, her inventive and fluid movement, and above all her humor simply invite our delight.”—Boston Globe
“An absolute spellbinder…an enchanting dream, and like most vivid reveries, it momentarily colors the way you see the waking world.”—London Daily Telegraph
“Touching and funny…As she pushes the boundaries of ‘normal’ theatre, Aurélia’s Oratorio provides a refreshing reminder that the best circus tricks are timeless.”—London Independent
“Awesome…It’s been a long time since I sat through a show with my mouth literally agape.”—Boston Herald
“L’Oratorio d’Aurélia, performed by Aurélia Thierrée and Jaimie Martinez, had more magic than all the special effects of a Hollywood blockbuster, so simple in its visual surprises it induced sighs of delight.”—The Australian
multimedia
See what wonders await in Aurélia’s Oratorio!
shooting stars
Arrive early to don a festive costume in our holiday photo spot. Take your picture and enter to win four tickets to an upcoming Berkeley Rep show. Send your photo to us at contest@berkeleyrep.org or post the photo directly to our Facebook page.
Press Photos
production sponsors
in-kind sponsors
Darling Flower Shop / Hotel Shattuck Plaza / Peet’s Coffee and Tea / Pyramid Breweries / Raymond Vineyards / Semifreddi’s / TCHO / Tomatina
season sponsors
