“Crazy Era! », the show that mobilizes the whole city of Meaux

• Crazy times!

  is a show that traces the history of the city of Meaux.

  A visit to the old episcopal city is essential to understand it better.

• Claude Brun is in charge of the backstage visit, “the most beautiful in France” according to Stéphane Bern.

• Volunteers tell how this event changed their lives.

“It's the adventure of a whole city.

Pierre Corbel is the director of

, a show that retraces the history of Meaux and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Shortly before the final rehearsal, the conductor of the 500 volunteer extras does not hide his enthusiasm.

It is in the brie museum that the organization of

decided to host

.

As we waited for nightfall for the show to begin, the Brie de Meaux companions demonstrated to us the “cheese of kings, king of cheeses”, a dish baptized by Charlemagnes himself.

After a tasting, head to the episcopal city where we are shown the palace, the gardens, the ramparts and the cathedral.

A real architectural plunge into the history of the city of Seine-et-Marne.

After the historic visit, Claude Brun reveals behind the scenes of the show.

This former mathematics teacher from Meldois has been taking part in the event for more than fifteen years.

“When we are bitten, we are bitten.

He cites the example of whole families involving grandparents as well as grandchildren – the youngest of them this year is three years old.

In an open-air vestibule, swords and bayonets, shields and top hats mingle.

“We have more than 2,500 costumes for 396 extras.

Some have up to seven suits.

This is the price of quality, because to trace 2,000 years of history in seventy-five minutes, each costume must be perfectly adapted to the time.

Behind the scenes, Claude Brun shows us the amount of tricks used by the

.

Lights, projectors, fireworks, flame effects, "with noise and lights, even residents who are not playing are directly affected by the show", he laughs.

Going from one backstage to another, the former professor indicates that further away is the horse club of the city, which lends six horses for the occasion.

Driven by the noise and the crowd, they will have to gallop in the middle of a teeming mass of Vikings, peasants or nobles.

A show that changes the lives of Meldois

No less than 14 doors give access to the stage that each extra must know inside out.

One of these doors is none other than… Saint-Etienne Cathedral itself!

The bishop lends its use for each performance.

On the benches where the faithful usually gather, Gallic, Viking, medieval or Great War costumes.

We change, we run, we repeat.

Unusual scenes for a place of worship.

Beneath the 60-meter ceiling of the cathedral – deconsecrated for the occasion – Stéphane Berne says of them that they “are the most beautiful backstage in France”.

At dusk, the extras who are already wearing their opening costumes immortalize the moment around a photobooth.

In a few minutes they will launch the season for which they have been preparing every week since March.

"There are people for whom the show has become their life," says one.

Another, in Renaissance clothes, speaks of an almost mystical attraction: “It's as if we were attracted, and what fun!

»

Some participants saw their lives change with the show.

A Meldois has changed his job to become a pyrotechnician.

An extra has become a costume designer.

Volunteers take such a taste for adventure that some wonder, come September, what they will be able to do with their weekend.

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