Olivier Tétreault

Where do friends and families gather, where are memories made and where is the circus cooking up a great performance? The answer is, of course, in the kitchen! Montreal-based circus The 7 Fingers is serving up its culinary-themed show, Cuisine & Confessions, at the Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre in downtown Boston for its American debut this summer (through August 7), and we recommend making your “reservation” soon for a memorable performance that is fun for all ages.

The 7 Fingers is known for its intimate style of circus, and Cuisine & Confessions is no exception. The show was written, choreographed and directed by 7 Fingers members Shana Carroll and her husband Sébastien Soldevila. According to Carroll, “When you brainstorm ideas for a show, you try to think of things that are closest to your heart. My husband is incredibly passionate about food and cooking.…Also, in all of our shows there is a kind of biographical element we draw from the performers themselves. We like to use their real skills and personalities.” Carroll claims that “while the circus is inherently joyful,” some of the stories presented in Cuisine & Confessions reach profound levels of emotion that render the show slightly bittersweet, “which is closer to what life really is.” The show also has an international flavor, since The 7 Fingers team includes performers who hail from countries around the globe, including Argentina and Russia. Carroll is excited to bring the show to Boston because of the international cast. “There’s a melting pot feeling to this; it feels like a neighborhood in America with all the immigrants and different flavors.” 

Carroll herself hails from California’s Bay Area. She “caught the circus bug” as a teen, training in Montreal and then in Paris, co-founding The 7 Fingers in 2002. While she no longer performs and instead focuses on choreography and directing, Carroll is very excited about what’s happening on stage in Cuisine & Confessions. “It’s really cool to be cooking on stage!” she exclaims. “It was a fun challenge for us to create a whole choreography around cooking an omelet.” Omelets are just one course on the menu. By the time this visual feast has been fully served, everyone is sure to have an appetite. For great pre- and post-theater options, check out bostonguide.com's restaurant directory.