CIRQUE du Soleil will present Ovo, a celebration of nature and co-existence, at Leeds First Direct Arena from September 19 to 23 as part of this fun-filled family show's British arena tour.

After its UK debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London in January, Ovo goes on the road from August 16 to play Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Belfast with a cast of 50 performing artists from 17 countries, all specialising in acrobatic acts.

Among them is Alanna Baker, from the UK, who will play the Black Spider. She was crowned European gymnastics champion in 2011 and won bronze in the World Championships in 2012. Alanna, who has trained in gymnastic and acrobatic skills since the age of five, has travelled around the world with Ovo, visiting countries as far afield as Japan and Australia and now returns home.

Ovo has played to more than five million people worldwide following its premiere in Montreal as a Big Top show in 2009, since when it has toured as a Big Top production but on a larger scale.

Ovo, meaning "egg" in Portuguese, is described as a "headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement".

What happens in this circus show? When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

Among the creative team behind the world of Ovo are: artistic guides Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix; writer, director and choreographer Deborah Colker, Cirque du Soleil's first female director; director of creation Chantal Tremblay; set and props designer Gringo Cardia; costume designer Liz Vandal; composer and musical director Berna Ceppas; lighting designer Éric Champoux and sound designer Jonathan Deans.

Joining Cirque du Soleil for the first time are rigging and acrobatic equipment designer Fred Gérard; acrobatic performance designer Philippe Aubertin and make-up designer Julie Bégin.

Ovo can be seen at Leeds First Direct Arena on September 19 to 21 at 8pm; September 22 at 4pm and 8pm and September 23 at 1pm and 5pm; tickets are on sale at livenation.co.uk.

Win tickets

COURTESY of Cirque du Soleil, The Press has three pairs of tickets to be won for the opening night's 8pm performance of Ovo at Leeds First Direct Arena on September 19.

Question: What does "Ovo" mean in Portuguese?

Send your answer, with your name, address and daytime phone number, either on a postcard to Charles Hutchinson, Cirque Competition, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or by email to charles.hutchinson@nqyne.co.uk, marked Cirque Competition, by August 17. Usual competition rules apply.