Features

A week in the life: Quidam's Patrick McGuire

Our new feature kicks off with the Cirque du Soleil star

Patrick McGuire began juggling at the age of 14. Since then he has performed around the world in over 2000 shows with two of Cirque du Soleil’s most praised productions, Mystère, in Las Vegas, and Quidam, on its original North American tour.

McGuire returned to Quidam during the South American tour in early 2010. He is now performing on the Arena tour as the Papa character as well as his manipulation and juggling act in rotation.

Last week, Patrick gave us an exclusive behind the scenes look at a week in his life…


Breakfast at 1pm in front of the computer.

Morning commute to the Royal Albert Hall in bright neon!

Signing in! With close to 50 cast members it’s important the stage management team knows if anybody is missing.

Digging through my toy box to find the props for my daily warmup.

Practicing a sequence from my act.

Working on some new tricks.

I’m very passionate about my Pilates training. Here I am working with my Pilates instructor Kata!

Onstage rehearsing a new finale to Julie’s Tissue act.

Our Physiotherapist Nino working on my sore back.

Makeup time! Luckily for me my makeup only takes around 30 minutes to complete. Some of the members of the cast take over an hour to finish.

Watching the monitor backstage during the show getting ready to do a cue.

Playing my accordion in the stairwell in between shows.

Resting backstage before the finale.

Back home in front of the computer but instead of breakfast this time it’s a little wine : )


Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam closes at the Royal Albert Hall on 16 Feburary 2014 and, according to producers, this will be the last time that Quidam will be performed in the UK.

For more information and to book tickets click here.