NEWS RELEASE

Opening festival of Singapore’s “Esplanade Theatres on the Bay”

Saturday, October 12, 2002 from 10:15 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Singapore time.

The opening celebrations of Esplanade Theatres on the Bay will culminate with a gigantic production around Singapore Bay featuring extravagant and captivating performances. This show will blend earth, water and sky, using as its inspiration the elements of the natural world that surround the new Esplanade complex.
This unique presentation will bring together artists from three continents, including Legs on the Wall from Australia, the Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur from Canada (renowned for its creation and ingenious manipulation of giant puppets) and Groupe F from France (creators of the memorable fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower on January 1, 2000).

This event will feature the energy harnessed from the basic elements present in the city of Singapore and its transformation into a dynamic multimedia performance.
Discover supply canoes floating rhythmically on the sparkling waters of Marina Bay in a choreography. These boats will carry magnificent flowers and giant birds, as well as other eccentric creations from the Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur, which will dance in harmony to the aerobatics of Legs on the Wall; these artists will use the Maybank Tower facade, located on Shenton Way, as a stage. This show will be illuminated with fireworks from Groupe F, capping off the evening with a breathtaking display of fire and colour.

Source: Eric Labossière, Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur

  

NEWS RELEASE

The Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur in Asia

Upton, June 26, 2002 – The Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur (TDC) is proud to announce that it has been selected to be part of an international team that will produce and present the opening show of the “Esplanade Theatres on the Bay” cultural complex in Singapore (in southwest Asia).
Together with a French and an Australian firm, the TDC was given the mandate to produce the opening ceremony of the Esplanade, which will take place on October 12. It will be a multi-faceted show performed on both land and water. The TDC will use the setting provided by the union of water and skyscrapers in Singapore to offer a one-of-a-kind show rich in colour and international flavour. All the expertise, ingenuity and creativity developed by Richard Blackburn and his team over the span of 26 years will be put on display to meet this formidable challenge. The staging of this event will enable the TDC’s 15-person technical crew to be on location in Singapore for one month. Two 40-foot containers filled with decorative elements made in Upton will arrive a few days before. For the TDC, this show represents a milestone in its international expansion.
This event also marks the beginning of three weeks of festivities. To commemorate this opening, more than 1,300 artists from 22 countries will offer classical, contemporary, popular and traditional performances from the world of theatre, dance and music. The role of Esplanade will be to showcase major events and international performances. The complex, in addition to being a remarkable architectural achievement, includes two large theatres and several venues for the production and presentation of a whole gamut of shows. We invite you to visit the Esplanade Web site at www.esplanade.com.
The Théâtre de la Dame de Cœur is a centre for research, creation, production, performance and specialized training in large-scale scenic arts using various media, including puppetronics, in both indoor and outdoor locations. The excellence of the theatre is based on the mastery of its expertise and the desire to overcome its limits. This summer, the play L’Île aux fromages runs from June 26 to August 24 in Upton in Montérégie.

Source: André Simard, Project Manager, International Arts Management