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This circus travels on its stomach, but lightly

A team of international chefs working in a portable kitchen keeps Cirque du Soleil performers happy and fit.

Heart shaped petal sits atop a dessert served at the restaurant for the cast and crew of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on Aug. 8, 2018.

Heart shaped petal sits atop a dessert served at the restaurant for the cast and crew of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on Aug. 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

When the Cirque du Soleil show arrives in a new town, the first thing on site is a tiny container that carries some basic kitchen supplies.

A barbecue to prepare food for the build-up crew is the first of thousands of meals prepared by the troupe’s team of international chefs, explains kitchen manager Ariel Layug.

Kitchen Manager Ariel Layug prepares the menu of the day, at the kitchen of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in OAKS, PA, on August 8, 2018.
Kitchen manager Ariel Layug prepares the menu of the day, at the kitchen of Cirque Du Soleil’s VOLTA, in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

Think about it. There are currently 19 Cirque Du Soleil shows being performed around the globe. Almost every day, a cast of performers and crew of behind-the-scenes staffers work hard to put up those shows, sometimes twice a day. And to make the magic happen, each one needs a healthy meal.

In the Philadelphia area, that boils down to 400 meals a day, prepared by the chefs in a kitchen made of five combined trailers, located on a parking lot behind the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. The meals feed the cast and crew of Cirque Du Soleil’s VOLTA show.

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  • Ahead of lunchtime, the three international chefs in the kitchen are busy preparing meals for performers at the restaurant of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August, 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Ahead of lunchtime, the three international chefs in the kitchen are busy preparing meals for performers at the restaurant of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August, 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Chefs in a kitchen made of five combined trailers, located on parking lot behind the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., prepare 400 meals a day. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Chefs in a kitchen made of five combined trailers, located on parking lot behind the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., prepare 400 meals a day. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Meals for performers are prepared at the restaurant of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August, 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Meals for performers are prepared at the restaurant of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August, 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • At lunch time acrobat Ahmahd Thomas, of the UK, sits in the restaurant located back stage of Cirque Du Soleil, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    At lunch time acrobat Ahmahd Thomas, of the UK, sits in the restaurant located back stage of Cirque Du Soleil, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

When the audience arrives to see the show, they are welcomed by 25 flags above the entrance of the tent, representing the home countries of members of the group.

Under the white-and-gray-striped Grand Chapiteau, acrobats, clowns and musicians put up an action-sports-packed show. All that work burns a lot of calories.

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  • Cirque’s Grand Chapiteau is seen lit up in vibrant colors reflecting off the white surface, as it is located next to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, in Oaks, Pa. To achieve a higher level of sustainability the Toronto-based Cirque changed its iconic big tops from blue and yellow to white and grey. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Cirque’s Grand Chapiteau is seen lit up in vibrant colors reflecting off the white surface, as it is located next to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, in Oaks, Pa. To achieve a higher level of sustainability the Toronto-based Cirque changed its iconic big tops from blue and yellow to white and grey. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Audience members experience the performance up close as vocalist and violist Camilla Bäckman, of Finland, steps on the stage and walks through the isles during the Cirque Du Soleil’s big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Audience members experience the performance up close as vocalist and violist Camilla Bäckman, of Finland, steps on the stage and walks through the isles during the Cirque Du Soleil’s big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Cast members on BMX bikes interact with the audience during Cirque Du Soleil's big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Cast members on BMX bikes interact with the audience during Cirque Du Soleil's big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • WAZ interacts with the audience during Cirque Du Soleil's big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    WAZ interacts with the audience during Cirque Du Soleil's big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Cirque Du Soleil’s Volta acrobats perform
    Cirque Du Soleil’s Volta acrobats perform "Rise & Shine" on a trampowall, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Cast members in the roles of WAZ and ELA pose ahead of Cirque Du Soleil’s big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Cast members in the roles of WAZ and ELA pose ahead of Cirque Du Soleil’s big top show, VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on July 12, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • The pants of a cast member hang to dry ahead of a Cirque Du Soleil show in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    The pants of a cast member hang to dry ahead of a Cirque Du Soleil show in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • A detail of the wardrobe of a character of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA waits for the show, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    A detail of the wardrobe of a character of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA waits for the show, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • A bike workshop is found in the back of the artist tent of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    A bike workshop is found in the back of the artist tent of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • A detail of the colorful wardrobe worn by Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA performers in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    A detail of the colorful wardrobe worn by Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA performers in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Wigs worn by the WAZ character are prepared ahead of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Wigs worn by the WAZ character are prepared ahead of Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
  • Alterations to the wardrobe can me made on site, back stage, at Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)
    Alterations to the wardrobe can me made on site, back stage, at Cirque Du Soleil's VOLTA, in Oaks, Pa., on August 8, 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

The team of international chefs knows that Cirque’s acrobats and athletes want to watch what they eat, so options are available. Layug, of the Philippines, says it is common for those on tour to gain some weight in the first weeks, so the kitchen has a well-stocked salad bar, gluten-free offerings, and options such as lean chicken. The chefs work with locally sourced produce to keeps the mouths fed, the bellies happy and the performers’ coaches content.

The 41st production of the Montreal-based global circus troupe will give its last East Coast performance on Aug. 19. Then it will be all packed up — kitchen included — and move across the U.S. Next stop: Seattle.

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