FACT FILE - CINESCENIE
■ The Cinéscénie stage covers 23 ha ■ 800 actors perform in each show ■ 400 volunteers perform backstage support functions for the shows
■ 800 fi reworks are launched per show ■ 8,000 costumes are used in each show ■ 100 horses are used in the shows, along with geese, ducks, cows and other livestock
■ 14,000 people attend each performance, and the shows are sold out months in advance
■ All the money made is invested in future shows
visitor receives a map detailing the show times. The park consists of fi ve large thea- tre areas and fi ve smaller show areas. The map also reveals smaller points of interest, such as jumping fountains, adventure trails and reconstructed villages of different peri- ods rendered in astonishing detail. One of those villages is at the entrance
of the park – the 1900 town square, a small typical French town square dating from the beginning of the 20th century. This village features shops, information kiosks and restaurants. It also includes a seven-minute music show with animated fi gures. It was all very cute and beautifully made, but this wasn’t why we had travelled to Puy du Fou.
THE VIKINGS We proceeded to the fi rst show – The Vikings. After a long walk through a beauti-
ful forest, we discovered the theatre area. We entered an open space in the forest through a wooden gate and were seated in a grandstand with wooden planks. We could see some Viking-style houses with a water element in front. This didn’t seem to be the setting of a magnifi cent theatri- cal pageant. Some actors provided a basic pre-show. We waited for the show to begin. The wooden entrance door closed
and the show started. About 20 actors appeared on stage, along with horses, geese and even buffalo. Then the Vikings attacked the village and the real specta- cle began. A Viking ship sailed into the lake from backstage. Buildings erupted into fl ames as the Vikings fought the vil- lagers. The fi res seemed to be real, rather than the result of obvious pyro effects. Our eyes widened – this was really impres-
All of Puy du Fou’s shows are based on actual historical events. Signe du Triomphe (above) has actual lions in the ampitheatre with the actors
sive. Another full-sized Viking ship, with actors on board, sailed into view, coming from behind, sailing over the seating areas! Then the lake started to bubble. To our amazement, another ship emerged from the water – with two men on the deck! How was this even possible? I don’t want to give away the story line, because you should go and see it for your- self. Suffi ce it to say that the show – like all the shows – was full of action, drama and brilliantly executed stage illusions. The shows were technically fl awless with amaz- ing sound and dazzling special effects,
AM 1 2012 ©cybertrek 2012
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78