Église Saint-Étienne, in Mulhouse, will be the setting for a spectacular audio-visual presentation, Terra Alsatia: In The Light Of History, that tells the story of Alsace’s fascinating past.
The show will open on 22 February and will run until 17 March.
After several weeks of rehearsals, 80 actors and up to 200 extras will be ready to stage scenes that will bring to life some of the memorable moments that have shaped Alsace’s history.
The director, Damien Fontaine, is also a composer and a master of sound and light shows and has already staged multi-media productions in France and overseas. He has won many awards for his creations, including his work in Lyon’s famous Fête des Lumières, where he is a regular contributor.
See more in this Francy That! article Many Reasons To Love Lyon.
The vast cathedral-like spaces of Saint-Etienne are the perfect backdrop for the show, as human performers and visual technologies combine to transport audiences to key historical events.
Terra Alsatia: In The Light Of History
With the help of 24 laser video projectors, the church will be transformed into settings from the past.
Some of the places audiences will experience are:
- The streets of Mulhouse during the German annexation after the Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871)
- The muddy and rat-infested trenches of World War I (1914-1918)
- The potash mines during the 1920s
- The Russian front, where Alsatian troops were sent as German Army conscripts in the early 1940s.
The stories in the audio-visual presentation have a common thread: the history of four generations of two extended families who are linked by the events they live through.
Most of the actors and extras are locals, keen to participate in recreating their ancestors’ experiences and sharing the region’s history.
More than 15,000 spectators are expected to enjoy Terra Alsatia: In The Light Of History during February and March.
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Information
Event: Audio-visual presentation, Terra Alsatia: In The Light of History.
When: Two performances each day (6:45pm and 9:00pm) from February 22 to March 17.
Where: Église Saint-Étienne, 10 rue Magenta, Mulhouse.
Tickets: from €15 to €35.
Getting there
Address: 10 rue Magenta, Mulhouse
It’s a 5-6 min walk from Gare de Mulhouse, 10 Av. du Général Leclerc.
