2024-09-19 16:06:02
Dor the past week, the bowels of the Arkéa Arena have been hiding some very mysterious artifacts straight out of a storybook: gigantic suspended balloons, oversized beds, tubas and trumpets with several conical bells, angel wings, bouquets of flowers, dresses and frills by the hundreds… A veritable Ali Baba’s cave containing all the secrets of the show “Corteo,” imagined and produced by Cirque du Soleil, telling the story and dreams of the clown Mauro. Until Sunday, September 22, the troupe of the venerable Quebec entertainment institution – which has just celebrated its fortieth anniversary – is performing six shows in just four days at the Bordeaux venue.
Dress rehearsal before the first of six Bordeaux performances.
Thierry DAVID / SO
“A consecration”
For his part, Joris Kondjia, a French acrobat lifter from the world of professional gymnastics, warms up alone in his corner before joining his comrades in a makeshift gym in the middle of the sets. “I train daily, with personal flexibility exercises. I have to pay attention to my body, it’s become a routine.” As a lifter, he takes part in one of the main acts entitled “Paradis” where, suspended several meters above the ground, he throws and catches a vaulter.
All the scenery pieces are stored in these “flycases”. Thierry DAVID / SO
“I’ve been doing sports since I was little, basketball and then gymnastics, but the circus adds an extra interest and poetic aspect to the sport. For me, being here, with all these professionals, is a consecration,” he assures, wrapping his wrists with straps. “At the beginning, there was a bit of stress and nervousness, but after two years of performing, it’s nothing but excitement.” In a few minutes, he will go on stage, not for the premiere, but for the dress rehearsal.
It must have taken seventy hours to make the white clown’s outfit. Thierry DAVID / SO
A large troop
Behind the scenes, the 120 or so people (including 53 artists and 34 technicians) who make up the happy band have a well-defined role. Here, there is no excitement or shouting, a few hours before the first date of the European tour, which will also stop in Prague and Paris. There is absolute calm and rigor, where only the voices of some escape from the walkie-talkies. Each “flycase”, each piece, each costume has its designated place. All the technicians are hard at work to secure the stage, while the official chef prepares the meal.
Training for artists – and athletes – is a daily process. Thierry DAVID / SO
The typical circus trailers of yesteryear are now a thing of the past. A total of 24 semi-trailers were requisitioned to transport all the equipment, from the many tons of scenery to the wardrobe consisting of more than 2,000 pieces and 600 different pairs of shoes. A handful of professional washing machines are even part of the luggage.
Technicians set up the stage and the safety net. Thierry DAVID / SO
“The Bordeaux date is a bit special since it’s the European premiere, we’ve been able to set up everything since last Saturday. But in the middle of the tour, we can set up the stage in eleven hours and then take everything down and put it away in just four hours,” says Alexandra Gaillard, tour manager of Cirque du Soleil. But before leaving the Arkéa Arena and packing everything up, it’s time for the show, and this in front of thousands of spectators who are inevitably amazed.
“Corteo”, from 52 euros. Reservations on the Arkéa Arena website.
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