Global Pandemic Entertainment Fallout

"I never thought in my life that I would wake up one day and basically in 48 hours we end up with no shows, no revenues."
"It was very tough because from hour to hour I was learning that one country was shut down and then the other country was shut down."
"We think that it will take a year to 18 months before we're back to normality, which means having a vaccine or a cure that makes people feel safe in a theatre."
"And then from there we think that within a couple of years we'll be able to bring back the company where it was."
Daniel Lamarre, CEO, Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil

"We feel frustrated when we know the show is suspended. And we also have fears because we have no idea how bad the epidemic is."
"When we stepped on the stage again, we felt almost the same [as] when we made our debut last August."
"The effort we made during this time was not in vain."
He Guowei, performer, Land of Fantasy show, Hangzhou, China

Cirque du Soleil, Travel Zoo

Cirque du Soleil, arguably the most famous circus troupe circulating at global venues, known for the quality of its extravagant shows, and the dexterity and professionalism of its performers, has gone from the heights of success to the doldrums of global pandemic inaction. The travelling extravaganza that has raked in billions in profits over the years, suddenly finds itself in financial insecurity. The troupe originating in Quebec street performance that took the entertainment world by storm has now seen most of its worldwide operations grind to a halt. All it took was 48 hours of unbelievably bad news.

The company, renowned for featuring acrobats, jugglers, firebreathers and musicians saw circumstances force it to shut down productions in China, Italy and the United States, just for starters, with other countries' productions to follow in quick order. Leaving it to file for bankruptcy protection. Its CEO was placed in a very difficult emergency position in a desperate effort to save what he could of the company. To help performers return home from productions closing abroad, to find warehouses where the company's 40 trucks of equipment per show could be stored.

Corteo, Cirque du Soleil

There were no fewer than 44 performances running simultaneously worldwide before the pandemic hit the global community. About $1billion in annual revenues from its shows featuring underwater performances, and shows focused on Michael Jackson, and The Beatles were realized. Then there was no option but to lay off 95 percent of the company's workers following show cancellations. In the end, court documents show the company had close to $1.5 billion in liabilities.

Cirque du Soleil saw its emergence in the early 1980s, billed as "The Stiltwalkers of Baie-Saint-Paul" in Quebec. And then it became a global entertainment colossus after sold-out shows in Las Vegas when touring productions and acquisitions followed. Many of those associated with the company became wealthy. A performer and co-founder of the company, Gqy Laliberte was listed by Forbes as a Canadian billionaire.

For the near future, a potential fall reopening for its resident productions in Las Vegas and Orlando, gives hope that things will eventually turn out for the company. The reopening of the Chinese production last month and another show set to open in Mexico in July show positive momentum. In Hangzhou, China, the masked audience appears to be more enthusiastic than it had been before the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Allegria Act, Cirque du Soleil