Australian tradie Ethan Westland, part of Cirque du Soleil’s breathtaking new show Luzia

A chance meeting led to this Aussie tradie running away with the world’s most famous circus. Now, he’s a key part of Cirque du Soleil’s breathtaking new show Luzia.

Australian tradie Ethan Westland never imagined that he’d one day run away with the world’s most famous circus.

But that’s just what the Tasmania-born plumber and gas fitter did about two and a half years ago.

He was working in construction in Canada when he met some contacts who were part of the globally-renowned Cirque du Soleil company and embarked upon a remarkable career change.

“It just so happened that the show they were working on was a water show and I had the appropriate qualifications to handle something like that,” he said.

“I was pretty curious, like a lot of people would be.

“When I used to think of the circus, I thought old school traditional circus and I didn’t know much about Cirque du Soleil.”

Luzia is set in an alternate reality Mexico. Picture: Supplied.

For the first time, the groundbreaking production incorporates rain, with an intricate water system producing a tropical downpour during the show. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Now, Westland, 32, is assistant head of aquatics for Cirque’s acclaimed new show, Luzia, which is coming to Adelaide in June.

For the first time, the groundbreaking production incorporates rain, with an intricate water system producing a tropical downpour during the show, including a ‘rain curtain’ which sends up to 10,000L of water onto the stage each night.

Westland is in charge of overseeing the water system (which took three companies to build), from the water container, to the rain curtain, the 3,000-litre pool built under its stage and all connections in between.

The water is captured in tanks under the stage, then filtered, heated, and pumped back up to the ceiling to continue the rain cycle.

“Touch wood, it behaves itself most of the time, but when it doesn’t, it’s quite needy. There’s a lot of maintenance that goes into it,” Westland said.

Luzia, which will be performed under the Big Top in the Adelaide Showgrounds from June 9 to July 7, is set in an alternative reality Mexico, and features Cirque’s famous acrobatic performances, as well as hoop divers, jugglers, trapeze artists, contortionists, aerialists and stunning sets.

Marking 25 years since Cirque’s first Australian show, the touring production consists of 124 people, including 47 performers. There are 26 nationalities in the show.

Luzia, will be performed under the Big Top in the Adelaide Showgrounds from June 9 to July 7. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The show features Cirque’s famous acrobatic performances, as well as hoop divers, jugglers, trapeze artists, contortionists, aerialists and stunning sets. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mr Westland said the show was the perfect balance between art and technology. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“The best way to sum it up is it’s the perfect balance between art and technology. It’s a show that’s at a calibre that would impress anyone,” said Westland.

“It’s definitely changed my life. If you’d asked me years ago, ‘Do you reckon you’ll ever join a circus?’, I would have thought it was such a bizarre question.

“Now it doesn’t seem bizarre at all, it’s just what I do.”

Tickets: cirquedusoleil.com/luzia