Cirque du Soleil's China show celebrates 1-year anniversary
By Zhang Rui and Liu Caiyi
China.org.cn
1597924178000

Cirque du Soleil's "X: The Land of Fantasy," a resident show in Hangzhou, the capital city of east China's Zhejiang province, celebrated its one-year anniversary after it resumed performances in China on June 3.

Cirque du Soleil reopens its resident show, "X: The Land of Fantasy," in Hangzhou, the capital city of east China's Zhejiang province, marking the gradual resumption of live performances which had been halted for months due to the pandemic. [Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil China]

"X: The Land of Fantasy," is the first production by the Canadian circus company to reopen in the world. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company had put on 111 shows that were seen by more than 90,000 people.

Jointly produced by Cirque du Soleil and Chinese real estate enterprise Hangzhou Suntiandy Group, "X: The Land of Fantasy" premiered on Aug. 9, 2019. The show tells the story of two clashing tribes. The show is inspired by Marco Polo's trip to Hangzhou, a beautiful encounter between the East and the West.

According to local regulations of COVID-19 prevention and control, the theater will be able to open 50% of its more than 1,400 seats. Shows are selling out fast.

"'X: The Land of Fantasy' is the crown jewel of the central activities zone in Hangzhou," Zhou Jige, vice president of Hangzhou Suntiandy Group, told China.org.cn.

"It is the only current ongoing show in Asia by Cirque du Soleil," Zhou said, calling it a "feast of artistic and technological innovation." The theater in which the show is performed is a former heavy machinery factory in Hangzhou, and now it was turned into a new cultural landmark.

The creators of the immersive show even created the world's longest indoor theater stage for the show, adding large-scale 3D scenes and video projections. The theater features 360-degree rotating seats, divided into two zones to represent the encounter of two different worlds.

"The goal for every Cirque du Soleil show is to present the highest quality production to our audiences where ever they take place in the world. For China, that high standard production was extremely important given the long and incredible history of art and culture throughout China. Our show director and his team wanted to ensure that the story of X- The Land of Fantasy and the visual imagery of the production honored China's rich history with a strong narrative," said Diane Quinn, chief creative officer of Cirque du Soleil.

Since its resumption, the team have made some upgrades to the show. The show's duration was reduced to 80 minutes and its storyline made more concise. "As a benchmark in the global live entertainment industry, Cirque du Soleil will never stop exploring and making breakthroughs in its performing arts," Zhou Jige said.

Zhou believed, that due to the Chinese government's efficient and proper pandemic prevention and control, the country has started to resume its economy and society. "That is why China's cultural tourism market can take the lead in recovering ahead of other countries in the world," he said.

Though some outstanding foreign actors and actresses are temporarily unable to return due to the pandemic regulations, most of the cast remain in Hangzhou.

At the same time, foreign team members that are unable to return to China, still were able to watch the rehearsals and give feedback.

Performers celebrate the one-year anniversary of Cirque du Soleil's "X: The Land of Fantasy," and interact with the audience in Hangzhou, the capital city of east China's Zhejiang province, Aug.8, 2020. [Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil China]

However, despite Cirque's Chinese business restarting, the Canadian entertainment giant filed for bankruptcy protection at the end of June after all its acrobatic shows worldwide were halted for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It preferred not to call the move a bankruptcy, but rather, on its website, describing it as "a comprehensive plan to restart business".

Last month, Cirque and the creditor group reached a "stalking horse" purchase agreement worth $900 million in debt forgiveness and up to $375 million in new financing, which acts as an opening offer that other interested bidders must surpass if they want to buy the company, media reports said.

A group of Cirque du Soleil creditors, led by Catalyst Capital Group, is the front-runner to win control of the circus entertainment company ahead of a Tuesday deadline for bids, the Wall Street Journal quoted a source on Monday.

A spokesperson from Cirque du Soleil China, headquartered in Shanghai, assured China.org.cn that "X: The Land of Fantasy" will not be affected by the bankruptcy proceedings in North America.

Cirque's executive Diane Quinn even told China.org.cn: "We want to share Cirque du Soleil with all parts of China and bring more shows to our Chinese fans, so of course we would be honored to expand our brand there."