The Stage is Set
PREPARE TO BE FASCINATED
- The CUBE measures 23 sq. ft (7m2) and weighs roughly 12 tons.
- It is built to track from upstage to downstage on a single central pivot, and is even designed to float.
- The roof of the CUBE contains a lightbox with 2.7 kilometers of LED strips.
IN, ON, AND AROUND THE CUBE
The set design of Cirque du Soleil ECHO revolves around the CUBE, a simple yet profound set piece built for a spectacular range of audio, visual, and tactile media.
At different points, it may be dismantled, stripped, and rebuilt, scaled by animals, swung from by artists, and used as a mesmerizing projection surface.
Surrounded by a stage that resembles water in a lake, every interaction with the CUBE creates a unique effect that ripples into the future.
ONE CUBE, SO MANY DIMENSIONS
Designing the CUBE was a massive undertaking. Not only does it need to support the acrobatics and theatrical performances of the show, but it also had to meet the technical requirements of a traveling Big Top show.
There are 40 lightweight blocks that fill in the CUBE, which are made of different materials based on their use.
There are soft blocks made of foam so they can be easily dropped from various heights, while “acro blocks” are made of carbon fiber or fiberglass to support the requirements of the performers.
It takes 10 projectors to project imagery on the rotating CUBE and throughout the stage–the most ever for a Cirque du Soleil Big Top show.
These projectors can create 3D effects on the surface of the CUBE to appear like it’s being built and deconstructed without ever moving an inch.