Nol van Genuchten and Luc Lafortune
Founded in Quebec in 1984, Cirque du Soleil have grown dramatically in the years since, spreading their innovative, animal-free 'new circus' format around the world. The company have also created permanent shows for venues including the Treasure Island and Bellagio hotels in Las Vegas and Disney World in Orlando. A number of their shows have toured Europe in their traditional tent environment; two of these productions, Saltimbanco and Alegria, enjoyed hugely successful Christmas seasons at London's Royal Albert Hall between 1996 and 1998.
Quidam has been touring Europe: the arrival of the tent at Battersea Power Station is intended to draw attention to the forthcoming re-development of this landmark building, which Cirque du Soleil will be closely involved with. The show tent will be joined by a second tent in which Cirque du Soleil and McLaren will host a launch party for the show and a number of other events. The lighting for these parties is being designed by Cirque's long-time and award-winning lighting designer Luc Lafortune and his associate Nol van Genuchten, with theming, design and production management being carried out by Cirque du Soleil in conjunction with Fisher Productions. The Cirque team were assisted by Gary Collins on behalf of Fisher Productions, who acted as the UK contact during the planning stages and then as production electrician and crew chief for the actual event.
Luc and Nol met White Light's General Manager Bryan Raven during the recent LDI 2000 show in Las Vegas, where they were taking part in a seminar about the design of the Cirque show O: discussions by phone and email started after Bryan returned to the UK and Luc and Nol got back to Cirque's Montreal headquarters. White Light will supply the shows with around one hundred ETC Source Fours, one hundred pinspots, Martin MAC automated lanterns from The Moving Light Company, as well as the associated dimming, rigging and cabling.
"Having long admired Cirque's work, and greatly enjoyed O in Las Vegas during LDI, we are delighted to have been selected by Luc and Nol to work with them on this project," said Bryan Raven. "Hopefully the events around the show will give Quidam the kind of welcome to London that it richly deserves, as well as allowing people to sample the spectacular Battersea site at close quarters!"
Quidam runs at Battersea Power Station from December 14th 2000 to 7th January 2001; the show will also visit Manchester's Trafford Centre in February and March 2001. Further information about the show and Cirque du Soleil can be found at their web site, www.cirquedusoleil.com.
Map of the Battersea Power Station area