On July 3, 4 and 5, 2008, “Québec plein la rue”, a series of 3 original and exciting evenings that have been specially planned to mark the anniversary of the founding of Québec, will bring the biggest international street performance companies here for a North American premiere.
Because history will play an important role in “Québec plein la rue”, the event will open on the St. Lawrence River, where the history of Québec began and from where it takes its name. The next site will be Pointe-aux-Lièvres, near the place where Jacques Cartier and his crew spent the winter of 1535-1536. Finally, it will move up to Boulevard René-Lévesque, where Québec City grew into an urban centre.
July 3: Thousands of lights on the water
“Québec plein la rue” gets off to a scintillating start on July 3 with a spectacular and magical fireworks display launched from the middle of the St. Lawrence River, at Pointe-à-Carcy. This historically symbolic site was chosen because it will allow the greatest number of spectators to see the fireworks from both shores. Specially created for the 400th anniversary of Québec by an international-calibre team of artists and explosives technicians, these fireworks, the biggest ever, will be under the direction of Groupe Concept FD and will call on Québec’s finest fireworks resources. The 30-minute display will be accompanied by original music simulcast on radio CKIA-FM 88.3. A colourful, explosive one-night-only opening show!
July 4: Mystery and enchantment at Pointe-aux-Lièvres
Starting at 9: 30 p.m. on July 4, French street performance companies, Ilotopie and Salamandre, along with the Dutch troupe, Teatro Pavana, will enchant spectators during a two-hour performance at the Pointe-aux-Lièvres sector of Cartier-Brébeuf park. Expect to be carried away to a bewitching and mysterious world!
As soon as they enter the site, spectators enter an unreal world of fantastic creatures performing flamboyant fire-handling exploits and where half-human, half-animal giants invite them down torch-lit paths. At the end of a short walk to the Saint-Charles River, spectators witness the feats of a happy troupe of colourful characters in an astonishing underwater performance.
July 5: Gathering on the boulevard
On the night of Saturday, July 5, between 11: 30 p.m. and 1: 30 a.m., Boulevard René-Lévesque will be taken by storm as Ilotopie, La Compagnie de la Salamandre and Teatro Pavana, along with Project Bandaloop (United States), Transe Express (France), the Compagnie Les Vernisseurs (France), La Compagnie des Quidams (France) join local troupes of street performers.
As these varied troupes take to the street, perform on a temporary stage and launch an assault on the façades and rooftops of the buildings on the north side of the boulevard, in front of the Parliament. their breathtaking shows will demonstrate all the strength and finesse of the street performer’s art.
A production of the Québec Summer Festival in collaboration with the Carnaval de Québec M. Christie and the Grands Feux Loto-Québec.
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