An exciting new show is set to “breathe fire” into autumn for its Belgian audience. “Night of the Dragons” (La Nuit des Dragons) is the name of a new show created by the well-known director staged Luc Petit and produced by l’ASBL Avant que l’ombre.
The show is multidisciplinary and brings together artists, choreographers, dancers, circus performers and actors in a historic breathtaking setting. The aim is to explore the mystery and legend of dragons across civilizations.
The stories of these fantastic animals have fuelled all manner of images, not least as ferocious animals who are best known for spitting fire. Typically, a dragon is seen as a large, magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions but dragons in western cultures have often been depicted as winged, horned and capable of breathing fire. But the reality is quite different in, say, Asia where the mythical animal is considered as a protective force of nature and representative of wisdom and power.
As dragons – probably – never actually existed most of us have to be satisfied with fictional dragon depictions to fuel the fire of our mythical mentality. The show seeks to explore the multiple legends of dragons, including some still seen in popular culture today.
Spectators are in for a treat and will get the chance to experience the many interpretations of dragons.
La Nuit des Dragons spokesman
Overseeing the production is Luc Petit, a world-renowned artistic director, designer and show director. He has notably collaborated with international artists such as Shakira, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jean-Michel Jarre, Gérard Depardieu, Alicia Keys and Katy Perry. He also staged the Disney cinema parade, the story of Peter Pan during an international tour, the Inferno show, which revived the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, a sound and light underground show at the Domaine des Grottes de Han and Christmas cathedral shows which have attracted many hundreds of thousands of spectators. Recognized for his creations around the globe, Petit has also been honoured in the industry and, last year, the Walloon Government made him a Walloon Knight of Merit.
The show, which lasts just under two hours, takes place in a historic setting: Chateau de Merode in Rixensart which is only about 30 minutes by car from the centre of Brussels.
The show will run from 20 October to 5 November, three times a day, at 5:45 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:45 pm. Tickets are €27.50 for adults and €20.50 for children.
