this is a really cute article i found on a gay news site, through a google search of "atherton twins" (so narrow minded people stay out! there are some hopeful thoughts by the writer)

Late in “Varekai,” Cirque du Soleil’s latest extravaganza at Suffolk Down, two figures sweep across the sky with awe-inspiring ease.

Dressed in blue, punked-out headdresses and dressed it matching half-leotards, the pair cut quite a look, made even more mind-boggling by the fact they are mirror-images of each other, the hunky identical twins Andrew and Kevin Atherton. Their routine, called “Aerial Straps,” has them soar with athletic prowess, and then join together for a “pas de deux” in space that’s strikingly homoerotic (and disconcerting.)

The Athertons came to Cirque du Soleil four years ago when asked if they wanted to participate in the development of a new show. At that time they were regulars in the international gymnastics competitions and were contemplating a run at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sidney for their native England; but the opportunity to participate with Cirque du Soleil was something neither wanted to pass up. At the age of 24, they retired from gymnastics and moved to Montreal to be part of developing the new show.

They had seen their first Cirque show, “Allegria,” four years earlier when a fellow gymnast who had joined the circus asked them to come to the show’s premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

“I sat there for my first show and couldn’t speak,” recalled Kevin. “I just sat there with my mouth open, watching the whole show. I couldn’t believe there was something as wonderful and beautiful as that. I was in awe of the whole concept.”

Once they became involved, though, came the lengthy process to develop an act, one that brought the brothers off-the-ground and into the air.

“The basic idea was that when we moved to Montreal,” said Andrew, “they said they wanted us to work together on sets of straps; and all the ideas that came from our heads. We spent months and months in the studio with our coach and the specialists and played around with the set of straps. When someone saw something they’d like, we’d adapt it more; so pretty much the entire show evolved that way.

“We’ve never worked with a net,” he continued. “We worked in a studio. When we were creating certain elements and moves, we never took it to full height. It was only when everything was safe for us both, that Kev and I felt comfortable and our coach was satisfied, that we actually moved higher. But the flights have never been done with a net.”

Were they frightened by heights?

“There was obviously a kind-of hesitancy,” said Kevin, “not really knowing what was going to happen. I didn’t know when I let go of Andrew I would go back around and catch him, or go in the complete opposite direction and hit him. So we did a lot of trials that worked, and a lot that also failed, which made the whole thing fun.”

“It’s strange, really,” added Andrew. “I wouldn’t say that Kevin and I are afraid of heights; but we respect heights. When we are high, we don’t feel very comfortable; so we’re very cautious when we are there. All of our lives we’ve been working off the ground, but nothing can prepare you for where our act takes us. The first time when we had to step off the steps, it was a bit of challenge; but after you’ve done 860 shows, you get use to it.”

Currently they do 10 shows a week, and acknowledge being quite exhausted when their work week ends on Sundays.

“We can be absolutely shattered on a Sunday night,” said Kevin, “but it can be a good feeling. It’s like going to the gym and doing a big, physical workout. Our show is like doing a big physical workout, and it’s quite nice.

“Sunday night is our night to go out,” he added, “and we like to go out to clubs and meet the local people. We haven’t really started to explore the nightlife of Boston yet.”

Whether they’ll find their way to Avalon is something that wasn’t addressed in the interview, though they did comment on the intimacy of their act that has them coupling in sensual ways that left you wondering.

Do they find difficult to be so physical with each other?

“No,” said Kevin with a big laugh.. “There’s so much going on really, and we do get pretty close; but the fact that Andrew is my twin, makes it something I can do. If he chose to leave, I don’t think I could work with somebody else. Maybe because we are so close and you need complete trust in the other person, and I feel that with my brother.”

“Am I uncomfortable?” asked Andrew. “Not really. When we first starting working with each other, it was difficult because we were gymnasts and always worked separately, both in charge of our work. We’ve never felt uneasy, it was just hard to work with each other and put the trust in or the blame on someone else. As far as being close to each other in the act, I don’t know, it’s pretty easy. He’s the only person I can put 100% trust into.”

The brothers discovered gymnastics at the age of 7 as a way to deal with their hyperactive natures.

“We had so much energy that our parents tried to find the right sport for us,” said Andrew. “We tried many different sports, but it was only artistic gymnastics that kept us interested, because it is so different, and every day you’re learning something new. From the age of 7 to 24, we’ve been engaged in gymnastics.”

But there was no hesitancy on their part to leave gymnastics, even without having competed in the Olympic Games.

“We put a lot of thought into that,” said Kevin. “Andrew and I knew that when we finished gymnastics it would be the end, and that we needed to do something new. And at the age of 24, this chance came up, and we knew it wasn’t one that we wanted to pass up. It wasn’t a hard choice. It’s a fantastic dream job.”

“We can actually feel the excitement and amazement of the audience when we’re doing what we’re doing,” explained Kevin. “That what keeps us going, really. Every night can be different. You can tell the minute we come out. You can hear the gasps from the audience. First we surprise them, then they don’t suspect us to be so high. Then you can feel what they’re feeling. And to actually make eye contact with them. We don’t have much time in our act to stop and stare, but there are a few occasions when we can, and we try to pick out certain individuals, and it’s amazing. When there are a lot of children, that’s the best. The whole atmosphere of the audience is totally different. You feel the children are so excited, and they’re not afraid to express themselves. We can hear the children tell their Moms how they want to do that.”

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