Virgin Voyages’ cruise ship show makes waves on land
BOSTON – Nestled between Boston Common and Chinatown stands the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, where people lined up Thursday night to see a cruise ship show.
Stage productions are typically the ones adapted for the seas, but Virgin Voyages is flipping the script by taking its acclaimed show from the sea to the land – the first cruise ship production to make the jump.
The cruise line’s signature acrobatic show Duel Reality – which was originally created for the cruise line and is aboard Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady – is going on a six-month European tour with some U.S. dates.
Duel Reality, produced by 7 Fingers theater company, made its inaugural land performance at ArtsEmerson in Boston to an energized crowd. During the one-hour performance, attendees had the opportunity to witness a familiar tale told through exhilarating circus acts. The show, known for its breathtaking acrobatics and unconventional storytelling, is a modern and unique take on the classic Romeo & Juliet.
It’s one of those shows where you clap every few minutes. The show is highly physical, with performers flipping through the air, which answers the question: What were the Capulets and Montagues so mad about? Before eventually coming together.
“When we started this mission of creating unique and different entertainment for the cruise industry at Virgin Voyages, we set a goal for ourselves to create entertainment that people would be happy to pay for if it was on land,” Richard Killman, Virgin Voyages vice president of entertainment, said at a press preview in Boston. “So, wouldn’t it be crazy if we could actually originate a show on the ship and bring it to land?”
Duel Reality’s transition from sea to land marks a bold move for Virgin Voyages and underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and creativity in the travel industry. The show will have performances in:
Spain – Madrid at Circo Price, April 18-28
Netherlands – Tilburg at Shouwburg Theaters Tilburg, May 8
Netherlands – Hoogeveen at Theater de Tamboer, May 11-12
Netherlands – Groningen at SPOT, May 14
Netherlands – Eindhoven at the Parktheater Eindhoven, May 16
Netherlands – Amersfoort at Flint, May 18
Netherlands – Enschede at the Wilminktheatre, May 22
United States – San Diego at The Old Globe, July 6-Aug. 4
Tickets range from 15 to 45 euros abroad (about $16.17-$48.52). San Diego prices are still to be determined.
“Rather than adapting Broadwaystyle shows, we sought out partners to co-create entirely new shows with a unique, distinctly Virgin twist. We even designed The Red Room, our on-board theater space, so that it could evolve into three unique stage configurations, giving us more flexibility with the shows we can sign on,” Kilman added in a statement.