For this edition of DidyaKnow we’ve rummaged through Fascination’s archives to pull together a few interesting tidbits about La Nouba’s costuming:
- A silicone application is applied to 40 percent of the costumes to ensure they are durable, fit tightly and dry quickly.
- Five sewing machines and hundreds of spools of thread are working full time to fix-up costumes.
- Eighty loads of laundry run every night in five “tracks” — headpieces, shoes, garments are washed by different people while two people bag and hang items once they’re cleaned.
- Fans were installed on the ceiling of the laundry room to dry delicate items.
- Headpieces are dried on wire frames.
- Three people work all day pressing costumes.
- Plaster casts are taken of each performer’s entire head to ensure headpieces fit properly, originals of which are kept in Montreal while copies are used in Las Vegas.
- Performers are taught how to apply their makeup in Montreal and are given personalized guidebooks with step-by-step instructions so they can apply their own make-up before shows.
- The wardrobe department handles over 300 costumes and headpieces every day. Most of the 67 artists performing in La Nouba wear three different costumes per show.
- The story of La Nouba contains two types of families or groups: the urban people and the circus people. The circus characters are denoted by bright, neon colors and the urbanites by dark, gray and muted tones.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil Press Room }
