The Nights of St Gilles return this year with a sound and light show that will enchant young and old.
I had the opportunity to speak with Michel Jourdain, president of the Cavaliers du Rêve association.
A brief history
Michel explains to me that the association dates back to the early 2000s. With a group of riders, he participated in a sound and light show at Osthouse Castle, organized by the Project'ill association. Among the spectators was Jean-Pierre Leyder, vice-president of Rêve d'une Nuit d'Été and headmaster of the high school where Michel taught.
One day, he summoned him to his office and asked him if he wanted to take over the equestrian part of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Michel agreed, and they ran the equestrian part of the Dream for many years.
In 2009, the Midsummer Night's Dream festival came to an end. They then decided, in collaboration with the Triembach-au-Val sports association, to organize a horse festival. Year after year, the festival evolved into a daytime equestrian show, and then, for the last three years, a daytime and nighttime show.
In 2021, the Burkert company, which had been lending the land for the festival, expanded and reclaimed its meadow. They then looked for a new location, and the St. Gilles site was proposed. It was quite complicated for them to organize another horse festival on such a wonderful, yet very complex, site.
That's why they decided to change their concept and create a sound and light show, but one that would be completely different from A Midsummer Night's Dream. And so, the Nights of St. Gilles were born.
This year marks the third edition of the Nuits de St Gilles. The first year, the show was written to be presented at the horse festival in Triembach-au-Val. It then had to be adapted to the St Gilles venue, which proved challenging. They were only partially satisfied with the result, which is why they decided to present it only once.
Last year, the show was therefore completely changed, with a new story, new sets and new costumes. But above all, many more extras.
Behind the scenes of the Nuits de St Gilles
Here we distinguish two different things: the sound and light show script and the organization of the party.
Organizing the festival typically begins in September of the previous year, with site reconfiguration if necessary, and the placement of various elements (catering, marquees, stage, etc.). Equipment is also refurbished, and groups are sought out for daytime entertainment other than that provided by the Entr'elles or Cavaliers du Rêve associations.
The script, however, begins two years in advance. Although the Arkenland show follows the 2023 storyline, a few additional adjustments and surprises will dazzle the audience. On stage, 230 artists are rehearsing tirelessly for this 2024 edition. For 2025, the script is already finalized, but the work that now awaits them is substantial, including the creation of costumes and sets, the selection of music, the stage setup, and so on.
The logistical challenges are numerous: first, there's the issue of meals, with the challenge of providing food for over 2500 people in a relatively short time while minimizing waiting times. Then there's the question of waste: how to sort and reduce it? Next, the site must be supplied with running water and electricity, and runoff must be managed to prevent flooding in the event of heavy rain. Many logistical questions arise each year as the infrastructure, lighting, and decorations are set up in record time.
Out of curiosity, I asked about the production secrets of the show. Michel explained to me that there are several people, dressed in black so as not to be noticed, who handle the sets but also manage all the fire parts, who give the actors the signals to enter the stage, and who are present in case of incidents, etc.
There is also a group of about ten people who work throughout the year on creating the show. They have many ideas, but not all are feasible, either technically or due to the high cost. They also watch a lot of films and search for special effects ideas online. However, it is primarily the creativity of the group members that allows them to build something magical, grand, and poetic.
The partners of the Nuits de St Gilles:
Here is an overview of the partners who make this celebration possible:
- The Riders of Dreams : Responsible for the scripts, the staging and the management of the horses.
- The Sports and Cultural Association of Saint-Pierre-Bois and Triembach-au-Val : In charge of catering.
- Entr'Elles: Specializing in dance, she participates in all daytime and nighttime entertainment.
- The Hop Guard: The Strasbourg artistic fencing association participates in the sound and light show and offers demonstrations during the performance.
- The Neubois Firefighters' Association : Responsible for parking management.
- The Sankt Moritzer Kompells: They manage the Biergarten.
- The MJC Le Vivarium.
- The Val'Magic Pyrotechnicians: In charge of pyrotechnics.
- Triemb'Arts in celebration: It unites several associations in Triembach-au-Val and manages the reception and sale of payment cards.
- Cost'Arts Parade: Composed of eight seamstresses from the Triembach en fête Sport Loisirs Association, they take care of the costumes.
- The municipalities of Saint-Pierre-Bois and Triembach-au-Val They provide logistical support.
Anecdotes and Reflections of Michel
Anecdote from Michel:
He's had several, but the one that stands out the most was the first year. With the stress of opening night, some actors wore light-up wings, remotely controlled from the control booth. The tests were all successful, and everyone was confident. Unfortunately, a child, while playing, yanked the control cable off the wings, and they didn't light up. During the performance, the wings had to be disconnected, and each actor given a manual control so that, for the next scene, the wings would light up again. The crew laughs about it now, but the stress at the time was enormous, especially for a first performance.
His favorite part of the show:
There are several, but two are his favorites: the entrance of the Achreios and the appearance of the Pythia.
His favorite moment as president of the Nuits de St Gilles:
There are many, but Michel's favorite is the present moment, and it will still be the same in a week, in a month, in a year. He explains that he's having a lot of fun and that he's not the only one. Everyone loves what they do. He describes the Nuits de St Gilles festival as one big family.
This led Michel to become involved in the organization:
It's the pleasure of creating something that people enjoy. Last year, the Nuits de St Gilles festival was sold out, and the team is hopeful that it will be the same again this year. In addition to the enjoyment, there's also the availability. Indeed, Michel has been on extended vacation for several years now, and can therefore dedicate as much time as he wants to the Nuits de St Gilles.
The essential qualities for succeeding in this role:
There are several: a great deal of empathy, patience, courage, and the ability to remain calm and collected at all times. Above all, you have to be able to bring joy to all the participants. Michel doesn't know if he possesses all these qualities, but in his opinion, that's what it takes to embark on such an adventure. He also adds that the most important thing is to be surrounded by competent people in each field, because what makes the Nuits de St Gilles what it is are the people who participate.
A Chinese portrait of Michel:
If he were an animal, Michel would be a horse, because without horses, the Nuits de St Gilles would not exist.
If he were a flower, he would be the squill, because it is the first flower he sees at the end of winter and which colors all the undergrowth of the Rhine plain with a very pretty blue.
And if it were a work of art, it would be a stone shaped by the flow of water over years and years.
The future of the Nuits de St Gilles
Their approach is to take their time, creating a new show every two years. They have many ideas. The main objective is to stay within budget in order to keep ticket prices as low as possible. Furthermore, they are careful not to overburden the volunteers so that their participation in the Nuits de St Gilles festival remains a pleasure and doesn't become a chore.
A magical and unforgettable evening
From 18:00 PM, the site will open its doors for an evening full of entertainment and surprises until nightfall.
Here is an overview of the program:
18:30pm: The Kids Show with the children from the Entr'Elles association.
18:40pm: Virago the Viking by the Roussalka company.
19:00 PM: The corsairs' ship with Entr'Elles.
19:15 pm: Pam Taaba and her giant puppets.
19:35 pm: The Hussars with the Cavaliers du Rêve.
19:40pm: The golden age of Charleston by Entr'Elles and the Cavaliers du Rêve.
20:15pm: Equestrian vaulting with the Cavaliers du Rêve.
20:20pm: The Hop Guard.
20:50 PM: Pam Taaba.
21:05 PM: The 80s by Entr'Elles.
21:20pm: Aerial silks by Le Sapito.
21:35 PM: Pam Taaba.
At 22:15 p.m., get ready to be amazed by the grand Arkenland show, enriched with new features for 2024, including a water show.
Catering and refreshments
From 18:00 PM, enjoy our food offerings including tarte flambée, grilled meats, ice cream, crêpes, and waffles. The Biergarten also offers a selection of beers, sparkling wine, white wine, and soft drinks to enhance your evening.
Practical information
Come and experience a magical evening in Saint-Pierre-Bois during three exceptional nights: Saturday, June 29, Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, 2024. Don't miss this third edition which promises to be spectacular!
Prices:
8€ for children under 12
13€ for adults