Become an actor for an evening and experience the emotion from the centre of the show! An unforgettable experience. "Des Flammes... à la Lumière" show" Every Friday and Saturday night, from 19 June to 25 July 2020.
“Des Flammes… à la Lumière”, the not-to-be-missed show in Lorraine. Every summer, the sound and light show on the Battle of Verdun depicts this great historical event in a spectacular natural setting, with a two-hectare stage, 900 costumes and 250 actors and passionate volunteers. Among them is Dominique, who gives us a peek behind-the-scenes.
“I’ve been a part of the association Connaissance de la Meuse for nearly 30 years. I’ve always loved history and heritage. In 1996, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, the association decided to create a sound and light show. The current director, Jean-Luc Demandre, has been with us since the beginning. I was interested in the subject because my grandfather and his father fought in the war. Grandpa was an officer, a veterinarian for the horses and donkeys. He was stationed in the underground citadel. That’s how I became an extra in the show. I brought my husband and three of my four sons along on the adventure. In the beginning, the sound and light show was only supposed to be for 5 or 6 years. And now, it’s been over 20 years!
Today, I’m a part of the technical crew, more specifically in the lights department. Last year, I took training courses for projecting video and images on the quarry. In 20 years, there have been many changes in the technical aspects and in the script of the show, but the enjoyment has remained the same. I remember the bits of stories that my grandfather used to tell us about life as a soldier, and I see his dark eyes in those moments. Salonica, the Dardanelles: they awaken memories. I also see my region and its history in a different light. It makes me want to dive into history books and learn more.
Being a part of the show is also a way to pass the story on to the public and to the younger generations. For this particular year, on the one-hundred-year anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, we have the opportunity to see the show progress, with new sets and new scenes, like the one with letters from a soldier that I find very moving.”
I see my region and its history in a different light.
