Cirque du Soleil wishes to diversify its offer beyond stage shows by announcing two immersive projects.
“My dream would really be to make Cirque du Soleil known all over the planet and that, even if there is no show taking place in a given city, people can get to know and interact with the creative universe of Cirque du Soleil,” says Stéphane Lefebvre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, in an interview with DutyWednesday.
The company therefore launches the video game Cirque du Soleil Tycoon which will be available this summer on the immersive platform Roblox. It is inspired by the universe of the new show Echo which had its world premiere in Montreal at the end of April.
“People on the platform will be able to visit the whole universe ofEcho by entering through the entire front part of the show, like going backstage to see how the artists are training or playing with the costumes or even changing numbers in the show”, explains Mr. Lefebvre.
The second project unveiled this Wednesday consists of a Cirque du Soleil show that will be presented in the immersive rooms of the Cosm company. The first location will be in Los Angeles, USA, starting in spring 2024.
The performance will take place in a dome equipped with a huge screen. “It allows people to go see a Cirque du Soleil show with viewpoints that would otherwise be inaccessible and on a screen that is huge and immersive, so in 360º,” emphasizes Stéphane Lefebvre. The experience is therefore different from that experienced when attending a performance on stage, he says.
This type of representation makes it possible to bridge the gap between the real world and the virtual one, believes Sébastien Ouimet, chief director of filmed and immersive entertainment within the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. The company is currently evaluating which show will be presented in the immersive room.
Complete the Cirque du Soleil “experience”
Even if it unveils two immersive projects, Cirque du Soleil intends to continue to present shows on stage, assures Mr. Lefebvre. “It’s part of our DNA. The idea is not to replace what is done on stage, but rather to supplement it with different points of contact with the audiences”, he explains.
The immersive theatrical performances and the launch of a video game aim to reach a new audience, but “the objective is also to complete the experience of the people who go to see our shows”, specifies the president and chief executive officer of the Cirque du Soleil.
“We will continue to work on projects that will allow us to continue to reach people of all generations,” he adds.