An urban tale
With visually stunning tableaux in which music and projections meld together seamlessly, DELIRIUM is a contemporary urban tale, a quest for balance in a world increasingly out of sync with reality. Bill – the main character – is an ordinary man living inside a bubble, more and more recluse in a society where even relationships are "virtual," and where television and computers have become ubiquitous devices that isolate us from one another.
A delirious sensory folly
Everything in Bill's urban life further draws him into an imaginary, virtual world. On his journey he meets myriad characters that bring him little by little on the cusp of growth and change. He eventually learns to ground his energy into the real world. At the end of his voyage, Bill contaminates the people of his planet and enlists them in his quest for balance.
DELIRIUM is a delirious sensory folly where music unites space, individual and society in a world marked by solitude and isolation. The subtext of DELIRIUM is the notion that, in life, we must join together—escape our solitary cocoons—to survive.
Music in motion
Injecting new life into the 21 songs chosen among Cirque du Soleil's most memorable musical moments, DELIRIUM is based on a musical rather than an acrobatic structure—a first for Cirque du Soleil. Melodies, musicians and singers are the driving force of this show that features a series of tableaux made up of images ranging from prerecorded visuals to manipulated live feeds that create interactions between the artists and the audience. Featuring new texts in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, the 21 remixed melodies mark a significant departure from the music Cirque du Soleil fans have come to expect.
The music of DELIRIUM—"urban tribal beats" that combine percussive driven pop and electronic music with melodious ballads and world rhythm sounds—take the audience on an incandescent journey into the musical realm of Cirque du Soleil and the aerial world of Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon.
DELIRIUM is a multifaceted event requiring acute coordination and uniting multidisciplinary artists, creators and crew. Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon have designed a show that fuses technical magnitude, human introspection and creative prowess.
A multimedia tidal wave
Along with the music and acrobatic performances, multimedia plays a key role in bringing the audience to delirious sensory folly.
- Few shows can boast such a staggering amount of projections for one event. Spectators will be treated to gigantic, crystal-clear images with infinite possibilities for projections on screens, floors, and the audience.
- In all, DELIRIUM has 270 square feet of projection space, the equivalent of almost 2 IMAX screens.
- Projection screens include 2 state-of-the-art roll-up screens suspended from the top of the arena, 1 tulle screen that stand at the stage extremities and 2 wings.
- 7 25-kW and 2 16-kWprojectors including one in the main character’s air balloon cast images around the arena.
- A unique system of pre-recorded, animated and manipulated live images keeps up with the musical tempo and insures the audience is alert.
Stage
Finding a rehearsal space for DELERUIM was quite a challenge. In the end, two locations were chosen for the monumental set up, including an abandoned automotive factory.
- The stage is 104 feet long by 20 feet deep with musical and acrobatic action occupying the entire scene at all times.
- The sharply sloping seating and the narrow stage submerge the audience in the huge set.
- 6 musicians, 12 dancers, 6 singers, 9 acrobats and 3 actors occupy the stage at the same time.
‘One ton of Fun’ in equipment
The technical coordination required for this show is demanding. Enough equipment to satisfy two mega rock concerts will be hauled across North America, set up and dismantled within just a few hours in every new city.
- Above the arena, 2 special rail bridges designed especially for DELIRIUM will support 85 000 pounds of equipment including 27 motors to permit characters to ‘fly’ as well as lighting and accessories to be moved about during the show. There are 98 rigging points in total.
- The main character alone will require 2 motors for his actions in the air balloon.
- Setting up requires 9 hours and is like an enormous game of Tetris, with each piece of puzzle requiring specific coordination and timing.
- 18 18-wheeled trailers will vehicle the technical equipment from arena to arena.
- In all, 11 tour buses will transport the artist and the crew.
- There are122 people on the tour, including 36 artists.
- The road crew includes 57 technicians, management and artistic support personnel, 29 bus and truck drivers, not to mention the staff hired on site.
Costumes, Accessories and Special Effects
DELIRIUM is filled with engaging symbolisms of life that are seamlessly entwined within the shows costumes, accessories, and special effects.
- Costume designer Michel Robidas has designed intricate structural costumes to bring the music of DELIRIUM to life, including an 80 foot volcanic dress.
- 5 luminous swings are used by acrobatic dancers to perform their feats
- A multipurpose planet drum measuring 15 feet by 59 inches serves as an acrobatic platform as well as a giant drum set comprised of 16 percussive instruments.
- Three curve-bridges resembling small boats and made of composite material enhance the acrobatic performances. One is suspended above the stage; the other two remain on the ground.