Last month Cirque du Soleil introduced us to their newest big top show for 2017 – VOTLA – which was announced to the world via social media on Friday, November 4th. In addition to the name, we were also enlightened to the show’s story and theme: “WAZ, a popular game show host, has lost touch with his inner self in the pursuit of fame, pulling others in the trap of instant glory. But as doubt sets in, WAZ is enlightened by childhood memories as he encounters ‘free spirits’ who open doors to his inner soul he has long kept shut. On his high-voltage search for meaning, will WAZ find the courage to relinquish his fame, reconnect with his true self, and shine bright? VOLTA tells a spellbinding story about the freedom to choose and the thrill of blazing your own trail. Inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of action sports, the show weaves the adrenaline rush of acrobatics into a visually striking world driven by a stirring melodic score. VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and the power of the group to make that possible. It celebrates freedom as a movement.”
And while they also told us the show came under the direction of Bastien Alexandre (Director) and Jean Guibert (Director of Creaiton), two Quebec designers who worked together on the Toronto Pan American Games’ opening ceremony, little else about the show’s creative team was released… until now. VOLTA’s creative team comprises 13 creators under the artistic guidance of Jean-François Bouchard:
• Bastien Alexandre – Writer and Director
• Jean Guibert – Director of Creation
• Bruce Rodgers – Set Designer
• Zaldy Goco – Costume Designer
• Julie Perron – Choreographer
• Martin Labrecque – Lighting Designer
• Thibaut Duverneix – Video Content Designer
• Jean-Michel Caron – Sound Designer
• Anne Séguin Poirier – Props Designer
• Philippe Aubertin – Acrobatic Performance Designer
• Rob Bollinger – Acrobatic Performance Designer
• Jaque Paquin – Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer
• Eleni Uranis – Make up Designer
• Manon Beaudoin – Character’s guide
But perhaps the most exciting ‘creator’ of all is the show’s composer: “We’re pleased to announce M83 (Anthony Gonzalez) as the Composer and Musical director for VOLTA bringing both epic and poetic sound to our newest Touring show, opening at Vieux-Port de Montréal April 20th!” This is exciting news! As Jose Perez pointed out: Anthony composed the soundtrack for the 2013 movie Oblivion, and the band’s music has been featured on films such as Divergent, Insurgent, and The Fault in our Stars. But perhaps M83’s most popular work is the 2011 single Midnight City from their Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming album. The track has appeared in several commercials, TV shows, and movies. “Volta is a contemporary show brimming with energy, but it is also deeply human and theatrical,” explains writer and director Bastien Alexandre. “We were seduced by Anthony’s ability to create melodies that are both epic and poetic and transcend the heart and soul.”
“The story of VOLTA is ours,” Gonzalez said. “It is a tale of a generation who is calling for change and I was very keen to contribute to telling this story. I’m deeply honored to be part of the Cirque team and it’s a wonderful new challenge in unknown territory for me. Ultimately, it’s challenges like this that I find so inspiring and drive me to make the music that I do.” Welcome to Cirque, Anthony!
Interested in learning more about VOLTA? Check out the first TV spot!
And, you can follow VOLTA on…
• Facebook: facebook.com/VOLTA
• Twitter: @Cirque #VOLTA
• Instagram: cirquedusoleil #VOLTA
VOLTA will be presented under the Big Top in Montreal’s Old Port starting April 20th, 2017. Cirque Club members can purchase tickets for these performances online at: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta >.
