_”Hang up your imaginary seat belt, we’re going to dreamland!” This Saturday, October 1, the Cirque Bidon Winter Festival has resumed its quarters in the Sainte-Sévère gymnasium. About 400 people came to watch the show, which closes the circus season. A special season, after two years of pandemic.
“Once you’ve tasted it, you want to go back”
As every year for seven years, the Sainte-Sévère gymnasium is transformed for a weekend: a track and bleachers, lanterns hung for decoration, musicians who welcome the spectators as soon as they arrive… The festival of ‘Hiver du Cirque Bidon, different from the show presented during the tour, honors other guest companies. And the public is present: about 400 people this Saturday eveningas many are expected on Sunday, October 2 for the second and final show at 3 p.m.
In the audience, many are regulars at Cirque Bidon, which they go to see on tour regularly. “Each time, we are out of place, they make us travel…. Once we have tasted it, we want to go back” smiles Pierre, seated next to his four-year-old son Liam, who is not his first encounter with Cirque Bidon either.
– Mary Dorcet
Complete representations at every stage
This summer, the company traveled the roads of Berry, but also of Nièvre, Allier and Creuse. “It was the easiest” explains François Rauline – also called François Bidon – co-founder of Cirque. “Because after two years of pandemicthe whole team was new, some were not used to horses, we still have a particular way of working” explains the one who is at the head of this itinerant circus which makes its rounds at the pace of horses, at the rate of 20 to 25 km per day. At the beginning of April, the circus artists therefore met in residence at La Motte-Feuilly for a month and a half, to prepare for the show before setting off on the roads.
Playing at home has obviously been favorable: all performances were sold out. “Even in cities where we stayed seven or eight nights, the public was there, it was incredible” he enthuses.
– Mary Dorcet
After this six-month season, François Rauline leaves himself until the end of October to decide whether he leaves or not for a new year. If so, the tour will be in Italy.
Cirque Bidon Winter Festival: this Sunday, October 2, 3 p.m. at the Sainte-Sévère gymnasium. prices: €10 adult, €6 child (up to 12 years old), free for children under 4 years old.