Sarah Dunn was given exclusive back stage access to Cirque du Soleil's amazing show, soon heading to Manchester

Its success depends on every tiny detail.

From the angle of the eye-liner, to the plaster casts of performers' heads which have been crafted to ensure each mask fits perfectly, nothing has been overlooked to ensure what is performed on stage is not only jaw-droppingly spectacular but also perfectly seamless.

The process begins when the Cirque du Soleil fleet of 22 trucks – the average for an arena tour - arrives in their host city.

Whilst the 55 performers that make up the cast of Alegria –  coming to Manchester in April - wind down for two days off, the 45 support staff swing into life.

The show employs 20 technicians who immediately set to work unloading £100,000-worth of set and equipment.

The action of Alegria takes place underneath a huge wooden dome, designed to represent the 'establishment' in a show whose theme – stunts and acrobatics aside – is the struggle for power between old and new generations.

The technical crew, which receives back up from local temporary staff, have an important job to do as Genevieve Laurendeau, Alegria publicist, explains.

“They must ensure the artists have the same conditions every time,” she says.

“This allows them to focus on performing, rather than having to think about other details.”

Backstage from a dimly-lit den of flashing dials controlling lights and musical equipment, you access a training area with gym mats, cross trainer, and weights where the performers works out for hours every day.

Practising his hand balancing routine on canes of various heights is Fernando Dudka, a 25-year-old Argentinian Canadian. Bare-chested in a pair of red shorts, the act of such extreme strength and control is still mesmerising without the stage production, while Maria Silaeva, 24 and from Russia, is just as captivating as she practises her manipulation act – the high point of which consists of spinning six hoops around different parts of her body simultaneously.

Next stop is the canteen where meals are served up by British company Eat To The Beat, using a colour coded menu to help the artists meet their dietary requirements.

But the food goes further than simply fuel – since the caterers embrace the cuisine of the places they are visiting.

“Sometimes it can feel like you are in a bit of a bubble,” Genevieve explains.

“Something as simple as what you eat can take you outside of that.”

Further along the corridor and we discover wardrobe and make-up - and this is much more than a leotard and coat of lipstick.

All the elaborate costumes are designed and made in Cirque's home city of Montreal – even the colours are created specifically by their 400-strong wardrobe team to ensure shades do not go out of fashion.

When a performer joins the company they too are sent to the French Canadian city for five months training.

Here, along with learning their routine, they undergo intense tuition in how to apply stage make-up and have their precise measurements taken – including casts of their head and nose – to ensure everything fits like a glove.

“This is really important,” Genevieve says. “Because if something moves when it shouldn't it might change their performance.”

The wardrobe team that goes on tour is responsible for maintaining and repairing garments.

The department also has the last word on each performer's make-up, although standards are high anyway. It means competition for the highly coveted Golden Brush Award – handed out to the best performer at their annual refresher class – is always stiff!

Artistic director Bruno Darmagnac believes it is the attention to detail which make the Cirque du Soleil shows so special. He loves Alegria, which was premièred in 1994 , for its traditional circus values.

Manchester has already welcomed three other Cirque productions  - Delirium in 2007/08, Quidam in 2009 and Saltimbanco in 2010. So what's new for 2012?

“This is where the other shows come from,” he explains.

“This is the roots of Cirque du Soleil. And for anyone who has not been to one before, it's a great introduction. It was one of the first shows created, that's its signature.

“To last 17 years, with everything that has happened in terms of films, games, special effects, and for people to still want to see it, shows it is sincere, it has got quality – it is timeless.”

Cirque du Soleil is at Manchester Arena from April 4 to 7.

Champion gymnast to a circus high-flyer.

Artists performing in Cirque du Soleil's Alegria hail from 18 countries, with Russia and Denmark having the highest representation on the cast.

However, slightly closer to home, 24-year-old Zoe McLean is from the other side of the Snake Pass in Barnsley.

A former world champion gymnast – she finished competing in 2007 – she was head-hunted by one of the company's 21 scouts around the world to join the company three years ago.

Zoe performs as part of the Power Track group display – which sees artists fly across the stage in a series of spectacular jumps and tumbles, achieved with the help of trampolines hidden underneath.

She was excited to be asked to join the production – but admits she struggled at the start of her training.

“I just couldn't get the performance side of it at first,” she says.

But watching her shoot across the stage with a theatrical flourish that night, it's clear she has overcome her demons.

It's obvious too she embraces life on the road and the travel opportunities working for Cirque du Soleil gives her. The company encourages its team to explore the places they visit and even reimburses them for cultural activities they take part in while they're there.

“It's not for everyone but I don't mind living out of hotel rooms,” Zoe says.

“I've made friends from across 18 countries and seen some amazing places. The world becomes a smaller place.”

Zoe hopes her future with Cirque will last another two to three years, adding with a laugh: “By then I think my body will tell me to stop!”

But the length of time an artist stays with the company depends on the act and the individual. The oldest performer in Alegria is currently 37, while other players – like the live  musicians and behind the scenes roles – can carry on much longer.

Zoe isn't worried about life after the show, since she has a biomechanics and sports science degree to build on when she returns home.

And for now she's happy as she is.

“It's an amazing experience,” she admits. Too right.

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