Retail Birmingham

NIA – Cirque Du Soleil

March 18, 2009 to March 22, 2009

Critically celebrated entertainment group CIRQUE DU SOLEIL has visited Birmingham recently to put the final preparations in place for its arena tour of the spell-binding masterpiece Quidam. By the time the show hits the city from Wednesday 18 – Sunday 22 March 2009, it will have been performed to over 9.5 million spectators in 68 cities and 19 countries across 13 years but this is the FIRST time ever it will have been performed in an arena.

Cirque du Soleil is set to transform The NIA, a space usually occupied by rock-stars and sports stars, into an intimate 5,000 seated performing space reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil’s traditional big-top setting. Planning the show for the arena environment has taken over 3 years and has been a colossal undertaking.

Hosting a massive 40 metre square staging area for the first time ever, the capacity of the arena will be reduced by more than half. This will result in a uniquely intimate environment with the entire audience enjoying an extraordinary viewing experience, making them feel like part of the performance itself.

Featuring over 50 performers from 14 countries, the stage will be set to showcase the best performers in an exhilarating and spell binding combination of gravity defying acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, rope-jumpers, a balancing duo and of course the acclaimed crazy clowns. This classic show will be one of the most technical productions ever created and staged for an arena. The production will feature a honeycombed stage with traps and flying rigs so performers can materialise from the depths or dramatically dive from the roof on ropes.

Quidam will turn gravity on its head with an impressive 120-foot overhead flying structure (the ‘Telepherique’) made up of five imposing rails which will take up the entire interior roof surface of the arena. The system will be used to bring artists onto the stage and to create a multitude of special effects. Ten computer controlled motors will lift and fly the acrobats out over the stage and into the audience. The ‘Telepherique’ will be 33 metres long, and at its centre is 12.75 metres high (the height of 3 double decker buses).

Three spotlight operators will spend the show strapped into specially adapted racing car seats 12 meters in the air. A custom built 24-foot diameter revolving turntable stage weighing a colossal 12 tonnes will be made for the arena – the stage will turn in two directions, in different speeds and will support up to 50 people.

Quidam is currently showing across Europe and to get cast a crew to Birmingham will be a mammoth task. Quidam will tour with 17, 45 foot trucks,53 performers, acrobats and musicians, 27 technical crew and 18 support staff. To unload and set up the show will take an additional 40 stage hands and take 30 hours.

The wardrobes and make-up are managed by six full time staff. Each performer has had their costumes and shoes hand made at Cirque du Soleil’s workshops in Montreal. Quidam showcases approximately 250 costumes, 500 costume accessories and 200 shoes.

Critically celebrated entertainment group CIRQUE DU SOLEIL has visited Birmingham recently to put the final preparations in place for its arena tour of the spell-binding masterpiece Quidam. By the time the show hits the city from Wednesday 18 – Sunday 22 March 2009, it will have been performed to over 9.5 million spectators in 68 cities and 19 countries across 13 years but this is the FIRST time ever it will have been performed in an arena.

Cirque du Soleil is set to transform The NIA, a space usually occupied by rock-stars and sports stars, into an intimate 5,000 seated performing space reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil’s traditional big-top setting. Planning the show for the arena environment has taken over 3 years and has been a colossal undertaking.

Hosting a massive 40 metre square staging area for the first time ever, the capacity of the arena will be reduced by more than half. This will result in a uniquely intimate environment with the entire audience enjoying an extraordinary viewing experience, making them feel like part of the performance itself.

Featuring over 50 performers from 14 countries, the stage will be set to showcase the best performers in an exhilarating and spell binding combination of gravity defying acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, rope-jumpers, a balancing duo and of course the acclaimed crazy clowns. This classic show will be one of the most technical productions ever created and staged for an arena. The production will feature a honeycombed stage with traps and flying rigs so performers can materialise from the depths or dramatically dive from the roof on ropes.

Quidam will turn gravity on its head with an impressive 120-foot overhead flying structure (the ‘Telepherique’) made up of five imposing rails which will take up the entire interior roof surface of the arena. The system will be used to bring artists onto the stage and to create a multitude of special effects. Ten computer controlled motors will lift and fly the acrobats out over the stage and into the audience. The ‘Telepherique’ will be 33 metres long, and at its centre is 12.75 metres high (the height of 3 double decker buses).

Three spotlight operators will spend the show strapped into specially adapted racing car seats 12 meters in the air. A custom built 24-foot diameter revolving turntable stage weighing a colossal 12 tonnes will be made for the arena – the stage will turn in two directions, in different speeds and will support up to 50 people.

Quidam is currently showing across Europe and to get cast a crew to Birmingham will be a mammoth task. Quidam will tour with 17, 45 foot trucks,53 performers, acrobats and musicians, 27 technical crew and 18 support staff. To unload and set up the show will take an additional 40 stage hands and take 30 hours.

The wardrobes and make-up are managed by six full time staff. Each performer has had their costumes and shoes hand made at Cirque du Soleil’s workshops in Montreal. Quidam showcases approximately 250 costumes, 500 costume accessories and 200 shoes.