Chapeau Europa! .......................................................................................................................................................................................... Client: Belgium’s Flemish Community, French Community, German Community and Brussels Capital District Activity: Institutional Authorities Attending Public: 9,000 people – free event Location: Belgium / Grand Place, Brussels Venue: Open air event Client Requirement: Briefing: Organisation of an official ceremony to celebrate the opening of Belgium’s Chairmanship of the European Union for a term of six months Demonstrate the government’s will to lead the European Union into a significant term Create a momentum that will generate enthusiasm with the general public and interest at a European level Target Groups: General public The public and official wings of the Government as well as the foreign “Corps Diplomatique” Our Proposal: Description: Under the guidance of the artistic director of Créations du Dragon, we developed a show in which the entire Grand Place of Brussels was used as a natural theatre backdrop. The square was crossed by a long catwalk, connecting stages at each end. One stage represented Belgium. It was equipped with a carrousel, on which several video images of Belgian traditions were projected. At the other end we showed images representing Europe, … projected onto a curtain of water. During a two-hour show, poetical characters, acrobatic performers, dancers and guest singers successively represented Belgium and Europe on each of the two stages and on the “bridge” between them. Moments of surprise were created with the use of a high crane, thanks to which acrobatic acts and décor elements could appear and disappear from the central area and even fly over the public. The main scenic theme was based on the image of a bowler hat, evoking memories of the Belgian painter Magritte and the Belgian surrealist movement, which also inspired the title of this event. To emphasise the overall concept, the ancient facades of the Grand Place and the City Hall were used as a basis for a wonderful light show. The show ended with a colourful fireworks display that also made use of the crane.