Cast members of Cirque du soleil's 25th anniversary production Ovo pose at a preview performance in Montreal on Tuesday. (Benoit Fontaine/Cirque du soleil)

For its 25th anniversary, Cirque du soleil is taking inspiration from lowly insects and elevating the bustling world of bugs into another of its trademark acrobatic extravaganzas.

Quebec-based Cirque offered a preview of Ovo — its 25th production in 25 years — in Montreal on Tuesday.

Ovo, which denotes the Portuguese word for "egg," will be based on the life cycle and ecosystem of a colourful and insect community that discovers a mysterious egg in its midst. Featuring 53 performers hailing from 13 countries, the production will have its world premiere under the Cirque's blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau in Montreal's Old Port on May 8.

After its Montreal debut, the show will travel to Quebec City and then Toronto in the fall before embarking on a U.S. tour.

Since its humble beginnings in 1984 as an assembly of 20 street performers, Cirque du soleil has grown into an international phenomenon that employs more than 4,000 people around the globe and is currently staging 20 shows simultaneously.

Nearly 90 million people on five continents have taken in one of Cirque's award-wining productions over the past 25 years.

Despite the current economic troubles, CEO Daniel Lamarre told reporters on Tuesday that crowds continue to flock to the Cirque.

"When there is a financial crisis people like to be entertained, they like to forget about it," said Lamarre, who had just completed his annual tour of each Cirque venue around the globe.

"I wouldn't go as far as saying it's helping us, but it's certainly not hurting us."

With files from the Canadian Press