When the show rolls into town for its Australian tour it will take 12 hours and 80 local stagehands to build the world of Quidam, but when it's time to leave an extra 20 stagehands will join the ranks to pack up everything in less than four hours.

Co-ordinating all the logistics is the job of production manager Mikey Newnum.

"Sometimes it can be the big stuff like 'can we get this show in?' and sometimes the drama is making sure there's enough toilet paper in the dressing room which seems pretty crazy… but it is all important," he laughs.

For people who've seen a big top Cirque show, the arena versions are a very different, albeit still "brilliant", experience, artistic director Marjon Van Grunsven says.

And with its industrial setting Quidam transfers "perfectly" from big top to arena.

"I think Quidam is almost more beautiful in the arena … arenas are higher so we can make our sets higher which makes it more spectacular," she says.

The key part of Quidam's set is the téléphérique, affectionately known as the "tele" by the Cirque team.

It's a towering aluminium arch where performers and equipment are suspended from five rails over a stage of metal tiles perforated with 800,000 tiny holes for lights to shine through.

"What's kind of unique to Cirque is … that most shows don't come this far down stage," Newnum says.

"With so much happening down this end which is acrobatic it can make putting a show into a venue more challenging than just a rock show."

Newnum says the set design comes at the expense of seat numbers, but avoiding video screens and maintaining the intimacy was important for Cirque.

"We don't want people to need binoculars, we might not even sell the upper sections because we'd rather sell less tickets that are good than more tickets which are mediocre," he says.

Months, sometimes up to a year, before the tour starts Newnum begins scoping out the venues.

"Once we know we can fit through the door we immediately start working with the engineer, that's the real big yes or no … after that it's the details of dressing rooms and offices, cold water hook up for the washing machine and drain," he says.

A big part of his job is making sure the environment remains the same for the artists in every country so they can focus on their act with no surprises.

"We even maintain the temperature because if it's too cold or too hot it affects the ropes and how sweaty they become," he says.

But all the hard work is worth it when he sits in the crowd and hears fans "geeking out" about their favourite part of the performance.

"When everybody is happy with what they need to do that makes me happy," he says.

Cirque du Soleil's Quidam tour begins in Canberra at the AIS Arena from December 10 to 20. Wollongong from December 23 to January 2 at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Hobart from January 6 to 10 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre. Newcastle from January 15 to 24 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. To buy tickets or for more information visit: cirquedusoleil.com/Quidam.