Wigan twins who entertain crowds with fantastic aerial shows look forward to getting back to work

Kevin and Andrew Atherton wow the crowds with their awe-inspiring shows, performing spectacular feats for global audiences.

They previously represented Great Britain as gymnasts, including competing in the Commonwealth Games, before joining Cirque du Soleil 20 years ago.

The world-famous circus announced this week it will make 95 per cent of its performers redundant in a bid to avoid bankruptcy, after being badly affected by the cancellation of its productions during the coronavirus pandemic.

While they have not had a contract with Cirque du Soleil since 2018, the twins have been performing in shows created by the organisation and heard about the shake-up from friends still employed there.

Kevin, who grew up on Barnsley Street in Gidlow, said: “It’s sad. I don’t know the ins and outs of what’s happening, but I guess the coronavirus has really knocked them off their feet, as it has done for many people. We have got so many friends affected by this, because their employment was suspended when decisions were made not to allow big crowds and gatherings, but obviously that’s become permanent for a lot of people.”

While the pandemic has put shows on hold, Andrew and Kevin are looking forward to getting back to work next month.

They will be continuing with a show called Paramour, which was created by Cirque du Soleil but produced by Stage Entertainment, in Hamburg, Germany.

Their aerial gymnastics display in the show was voted the second best Broadway moment of 2016 and they have been performing it in Germany since the beginning of last year.

It is hoped that training can resume in August, ready for the show to open in September.

Kevin said: “We have been doing that show for a long time and absolutely love it, because we get to sing and dance as well as perform our acrobatic act.”

The production runs until September 13, after which they plan to spend time at their homes in Las Vegas before moving to Mexico for at least a year for a show called Joya, which begins in November.

That was also created by Cirque du Soleil but produced by Vidanta Rivera Maya, and will be a dinner show in a resort.

The twins love travelling the world to perform in amazing shows and are joined by Andrew’s wife, his two children and Kevin’s two-year-old son.

Kevin said: “We started over 20 years and we have never stopped. We have just turned 45 and to be still doing what we are doing at that age is pretty special. We are lucky to be able to do that.

“A lot of people think children would stop us doing something like that, but we bring the children so they experience everything we do.”

The pair no longer have family in Wigan - their parents moved to Spain and their sister lives in Wakefield - but would like to show their children their home town one day.

And despite being so far from home, they still remember where it all started.

Kevin said: “We are both proud of our roots. We were at The Deanery High School and without the support from the council and The Deanery, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. They used to let us take time off school to focus on our training. We definitely were born in the right town.”

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