Press Release

The creation process is currently underway for the new Cirque du Soleil touring show, TORUK – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s record-breaking movie AVATAR, which will begin touring in November 2015.

TORUK – The First Flight takes place thousands of years before the movie AVATAR and before any humans visited Pandora.  Lead by an actual Storyteller character, the show will follow three young adults – Ralu, Entu, and Tsyal – and the first flight of the Toruk.

The name

TORUK – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR, a live experience by Cirque du Soleil®, envisions a world beyond imagination set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film. The word Toruk, in the Na’vi language, refers to the great leonopteryx, the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Central in Na’vi lore and culture, this fascinating creature is crucial to the Na’vi clans’ sense of destiny and interconnectedness – and is about to be ridden for the very first time by a Na’vi.

The characters

Ralu, Member of the Omaticaya Clan, is the son of a formidable hunter who taught him exceptional focus and discipline.  Ralu is a sensitive and compassionate boy on the brink of adulthood. Although he is only 14 years old (in Earth years), there is a calm and quiet force about him that underscores his carefree attitude. Always on the lookout for his childhood friend and protégé Entu, Ralu is a natural born leader. Whenever the going gets tough, he channels all his energy and skills into the challenge at hand and invariably gets the job done. Just ask Entu, whom Ralu once saved from certain death by luring away a thanator during archery practice deep in the rainforest. No wonder everybody rallies behind Ralu – his is a doer and a thinker with a heart of gold! 

Entu, Member of the Omaticaya Clan, lost both of his parents early in life in a freak attack by a thanator. He is the same age (14 years old in Earth years) as his lifelong friend Ralu – his mentor – with whom he has always engaged in a healthy competition that has definitely kept him on his toes. Spunky and intense, Entu is fully in touch with his emotions and knows to follow and trust his instincts. One day, when a member of his clan ventured too far out on a cliff edge and was left dangling on a limb, Entu instantly concocted an ingenious counterweight device using his pack, a sturdy branch and some vines to lower himself down the mountain face and save the boy, showing total disregard for his own safety. With his quick wit and dauntless spirit, Entu is eager – and ready – to dive headlong into the adventures that lie ahead.

Tsyal, Member of the Tawkami Clan, is the only child of a village chief who lost her mother at a tender age. She was raised by her grandmother with the help of other members of her clan, as is the custom among the Na’vi. Highly proficient in herbal lore, her grandmother was a chemist widely revered among the Tawkami for her unique remedies and concoctions. Tsyal’s clan is renowned throughout the land for their knowledge of chemistry and alchemy, and the abilities she inherited from her grandmother are transmitted every two generations through a special bond among clan members. Spurred by her grandmother’s legacy and wanting to live up to the expectations bestowed upon her, Tsyal has taken great pride in creating innovative mixtures and recipes of her own. True to her clan nestled deep inside the primeval forests of Pandora, this easygoing, sprightly girl with an indomitable spirit has a cheerful nature and loves to play tricks. With a mere seed, she can put the fiercest beast to sleep; with the frailest-looking flower, she can induce the most beautiful dreams or provoke the most terrifying nightmares. Such is the tremendous power of the natural elements that Tsyal and her clan have learned to understand and harness.

The Storyteller

There is an aura of mystery about the Storyteller – a wanderer who roams the land, going from village to village and from clan to clan, in constant touch with his people. Wrapped in his beautiful, weathered mantle, the wise yet unassuming Storyteller exudes wisdom and compassion. As for his age, nobody knows for sure. Time seems to stand still for those who experience life-changing events of the highest magnitude. Regardless of the clan he was born into, the Storyteller’s soul contains the joys and sorrows of all his Na’vi brothers and sisters. He is a guide and a connector – a messenger of peace and unity. Long ago, the Storyteller earned a special place in the hearts of his people, and that is where his true home is.

For more information about the creation process and behind the scenes, visit http://cirk.me/1Pkwpcz.

TORUK – The First Flight will have a soft opening on November 12 in Bossier City, Louisiana.  The world premiere will be held on December 21 in Montreal, Canada. For the full list of cities and to purchase tickets visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk. 

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Media contact:
Laura Silverman
Laura.Silverman@cirquedusoleil.com