Cirque Plume Information

Indeed Cirque Plume, which is one of the leading French companies in its field with 13 permanent cast members, attracts big crowds: its six previous shows were seen by a combined audience of nearly 1.5 million, on tours in France and abroad. But the economics remain precarious, the venture being 84% self-financed (90% in the case of its last show). Broadly speaking, 'The circus is a poor relation, a very poor relation, when you look at the support given to the theatre or dance,' says Bernard Kudlak. Cirque Plume would like to receive a grant known as an 'aide au fonctionnement de la salle de spectacles' towards the upkeep of its expensive big top, to which it is extremely attached. 'With the big top, the public come into performers' own environment, the performers don't go into a theatre, and it's a venue that alters the structure of a town', stresses Bernard Kudlak. The 2r2c cooperative ('de rue de cirque') is also in favour of 'companies that choose the big top as a way of life and defend that link with the public and creativity'. Like the pioneers of Cirque Baroque and the young artistes in the Compagnie Galapiat, who will hold a 'village circus' on the lawns of Reuilly until 1 November.