Look up, wayyy up: there’s a circus giant downtown!

Isa Tousignant

Isa Tousignant is a Montréal-based editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. All were transformative. 

This article was updated on February 12, 2024.

Circus lovers, prepare for the invasion! This July, a ginormous, 52-foot steel structure in the shape of a giant will return to the Place Ville-Marie Esplanade. But don’t worry, Le Géant comes in peace: it will act as living stage for incredible circus arts performances during the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT C!RQUE festival.

A giant stage for extraordinary feats

The giant metal structure that stands tall on the Place Ville-Marie Esplanade, dramatically set against the famous Ring, will be the site for extraordinary FREE performances daily throughout the festival. A stage of the most unusual shape, Le Géant weighs a whopping 48,000 pounds, and towers of 52 feet high and 30 feet wide. Be among the thousands to enjoy the performances this year!

 

An outsize ode to joy

Le Géant plays host to the Québec circus company Cirque Éloize, with shows every evening (except Mondays) at 6 and 9:30 pm. The show is an acrobatic ode to joy and excess performed by a troupe of 12 gravity-defying acrobats who climb it, hang from it, fly from trampolines, dance vertically and fall from death-defying heights. It’s a thrill and a half to watch, and it’s set against an engaging  musical soundtrack mixing orchestral and electronic flavours.

 

A circus festival like no other

Le Géant is presented as part of MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT C!RQUE, a circus festival that came about in 2010 as a collective dream shared by TOHU, Cirque Éloize, The 7 Fingers, Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and En Piste. It’s a veritable who’s who of this circus city’s greats, so you can imagine the fun at hand. This is the first North American festival dedicated to circus — and no one knows circus like Montréal.

Throughout the first two weeks of July, circus artists from around the world will take over parks, streets, rooftops, balconies and venues throughout the city with their outlandish, outstanding performances where circus arts meet dance, theatre, comedy and music. You can look forward to over 100 shows and endless free outdoor animations. Try to catch them all!

 

Isa Tousignant

Isa Tousignant is a Montréal-based editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. All were transformative. 

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