It takes 130 people working behind the scenes and on stage to ensure Saltimbanco's daily performances succeed without a hitch. From catering staff to dry cleaners and teachers to technicians each has their role to play in ensuring the show works like clockwork. And the behind-the-scenes staff are just as committed to Cirque du Soleil as the performers who risk the heights of the big top each night. Wardrobe assistant Susan Burchill has worked for the company for five years. The Australian mum is living alongside people from more than 20 nationalities and is helped by the fact that the common language is English. Her job is to ensure that the hundreds of shoes, masks, hats and accessories which make up the colourful show are in tip top condition for each performance. And this can mean a lot of hard work. "I probably repair about sixty shoes a day," says 36-year-old Susan. "Very often this is just repainting them because of all that crawling on the floor but they can be more seriously damaged. I mix the paints here - most of the shoes only need one colour but some need three or more." Most so-called pairs are actually mix-matched - an orange shoe may be worn with a lime green or a bright blue with pink. And over time Susan has come to recognise the feet many of them belong to. "The person who did this job before me didn't label the shoes and I don't know how she managed, especially when so many of them don't even match. But it is funny that you do begin to recognise certain shoes to certain artists. This could be because a particular role on stage can wear or scuff a shoe in a certain way or it could be because of the size." Susan enjoys living and travelling with the circus. Her partner 33-year-old Daniel Ross also works for the company as a stage manager and they have a 20-month-old daughter Josephine. "It really is like being with a large family," says Susan. "And of course being with your family all the time has good aspects and bad. It is a good environment to work in but when you have a day off you can't get away from anyone. You go shopping in Birmingham everywhere you go you are bumping into other people from Cirque du Soleil. And when we went to see the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona it was full of people from work. "It can also be quite tiring always travelling with a baby. She has already visited Switzerland, Spain, France, England, Holland, Italy and Belgium as well as going to Australia for my family to meet her and to see Daniel's relatives in Canada. She is a very well travelled baby." TIMES: Tues, Wed, Thurs at 7.30pm; Fri at 4.30pm* and 8.30pm; Sat at 3.30pm and 7.30pm*; Sun at 2pm and 6pm. No performances on Mondays (*Performances on selected dates) (PLEASE NOTE: there is no performance on Tuesday March 22 and on Sunday March 27 the shows are at 1pm and 5pm) Saltimbanco Box Office: 0121 322 6804. Adults: prices range from £17 - £39 plus booking fee. Discounts are available for children, students, seniors and groups. | 
