"We're not going to lie, we're a little stressed": near Bordeaux, behind the scenes of the first performance of the Cirque Medrano

After a three-day delay due to weather conditions, the artists of the Medrano circus were finally able to give the first performance of their ice show at the Bouscat racecourse on Tuesday, October 28.

Three hours before the first performance, everyone is buzzing under the big pink and yellow big top. Outside, trucks serve as dressing rooms and living quarters. Inside, waffles, crepes, and hot dogs are being prepared in the food court. But at the entrance, the ticket office is still closed. "We're completely overwhelmed," sighs the presenter, Jean-Damien Maugée, while keeping a smile on his face. As the first performance of "The Great Circus on Ice" by the Medrano circus troupe (1) approaches, this Tuesday morning, October 28 at the Bouscat racecourse, there's a buzz of excitement.

At 61, Jean-Damien Maugée, aka Mr. Ringmaster, is in charge of the show. "I lead the show," he explains proudly. He fell in love with the circus as a child: "I must have been 5 years old when my parents took me to the circus for the first time. Since then, I've developed a real passion."

The still-soaked ground complicates matters: the weather conditions forced the circus to postpone the first performances of the show by three days . "We had to dig trenches to drain the water inside the big top," he says. Because there won't be the famous sandy rink here. The heart of the show is the ice. A temporary skating rink that's struggling to solidify. "We watered all night to create the different layers of ice," explains Jean-Damien Maugée. Yet, a few hours before the premiere, some parts are still liquid.

“I must have been 5 years old when my parents took me to the circus for the first time. Since then, I have developed a real passion.”

It normally takes three days to obtain the necessary five to six centimeters of ice thickness. This Tuesday morning, the skaters are training on the ice for the first time. Aged around twenty, they are about fifteen artists from Ukraine. "With the current situation, this ice circus allows them to get out of their country for three months," emphasizes Mr. Loyal.

This type of circus is very popular there. This specialty won over director Raoul Gibault, who brought the idea back to France. In Bordeaux, it hadn't been performed for five or six years. In total, 15 acts will follow one another, almost all on ice. "Because it's original, it appeals to the public," assures the presenter.

In the spotlight, another legendary face of the circus: Mister Tomito, the show's clown. Ten years into his career, tours all over Europe, but still that little thrill before going on stage. "We're not going to lie, we're a little stressed," he confides quietly. Two artists from Moldova are also part of the group. Despite the languages ​​and cultures, the troupe seems to be in harmony: "We're all working towards the same goal, so we always find a way to communicate. We speak the language of the circus!" smiles the clown.

At 2 p.m., the lights go down and the magic begins. After the sold-out 7:30 p.m. performance, the entire troupe can finally say "phew."

(1) Until Tuesday, November 11, from Monday to Saturday, three performances lasting two hours and fifteen minutes with intermission are scheduled at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Sundays, performances at 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.