...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................URBANINSPIRATIONFLYING THE HIGH LIFEFROM CLIMBINGAND CAVING TOPERFORMINGAROUND THEWORLDBy Sally WoodfieldSuspended 50 metres above the crowd, Arthur Meauxsoonespreads his angel wings and soars along the zipline strungbetween towering cranes. Below him, thousands of people turntheir faces skyward, the joy evident and reaching up in wonderand delight. Feathers cascade around him and the feeling is“magic.The son of well-known Belgian speleologist anddocumentary maker Guy Meauxsoone, Arthur says he has beencaving and in the outdoors all his life. “When people asked mewhat I wanted to do when I was older, I would say I wantedto work as a speleologist and take people into caves. I loveexploring new things and discovering new places.”“It’s incredible,” he says. “This is why I do this.”Arthur (32) is one of 26 cast and crew with France’sCompagnie Gratte Ciel (trans: ‘skyscraper’), a company whichspecialises in grand scale performances with most of the castcoming from backgrounds in the outdoors industry – ropesspecialists, caving and canyoning instructors, climbing experts,paragliders and base jumpers.Compagnie Gratte Ciel comes to New Zealand in Marchto perform Place Des Anges in Auckland Domain exclusivelyas part of Auckland Arts Festival for three nights with 10,000people attending each night. Written and directed by PierrotBidon and Stéphane Girard, Place Des Anges has beenperformed around the world entrancing audiences of all ages inFrance, Canada, Poland, Argentina, England, Sweden, Russia,South Africa and Australia.Like Arthur, Rémy Legeay (32) comes from an outdoorsbackground as a ropes expert and has been with Gratte Ciel for10 years – he heard of the company while training as a ropesinstructor, and a few years later Stephane invited him to join.As well as performing, he’s the company’s head rigger andaerial designer and is in charge of overall safety, of the ‘angels’and the public attending the show.“In Auckland we’re working 50 metres above the ground,but in some countries where we have performed from buildings,we have been up to 100 metres above the audience. Safety isthe most important thing for me – making sure everyone issafe. So while I love all the special moments of performing theshow, I’m also very focused on keeping an eye on everybody andthe whole installation.”Rémy’s commitment to safety and design, and a brainwhich he says “thinks about the mechanics of what needs tobe done”, has also seen him working with high wire walkerson major installations including the 300 metre crossing of theriver Volga in Prague and he’s now collaborating with highwire walkers to use textile ropes – a major departure from thetraditional use of metal wire.While Rémy has spent a lifetime working at heights, forArthur it’s a different story. A caving and canyoning instructor,and outdoors enthusiast, Arthur has been with CompagnieGratte Ciel for six years and says performing as an angel inthe show is a far cry from being underground discovering newcaves in Mexico, exploring the caves near his home town inLyon, France, or experiencing the beauty of the ice caves atMount Blanc.Arthur’s exploring has taken him into a few tight places attimes including being seriously injured in his early 20s whileexploring a new cave in Mexico’s Puebla region with his fatherand three climbing partners.While 300m underground, a piece of the wall, including theanchor point, gave way and sliced through the rope. Arthur fell35 metres and was stranded at the bottom with three otherclimbers and leaving only Guy on the surface. French, Belgianand Mexican climbers were involved in the rescue. A yearlater Arthur returned to the Tipitcli cave and pushed the cavefurther to a length of 1000 metres and a depth of 658 metres.“All experiences are good – you learn from those accidents.”One of the climbers on that expedition was Place Des Angesdirector Stéphane Girard. “My parents have known him formany years and he’s been on numerous expeditions with them.About six years ago he invited me to join the company.“I love everything about the show – travelling to newplaces, being part of the team and the feeling of doing the showfor the audience. There’s so much love shared between you andthe people and that connection is really powerful for me.”Arthur admits that working high above the ground tooksome adjustment after being more comfortable underground.“There are times when I’ve been scared about being at height,but then during the show you’re in the moment and feelingwhat’s happening all around you and with the audience.“It’s an incredible feeling. You look down and there’s no youngor old, there’s no difference or confrontation between people …everyone is smiling and people forget their troubles and theyare just filled with joy and wonder.”Rémy adds that seeing the audience respond to the showmakes all the months of preparation worthwhile. “We see thejoy this brings to people and that is the best thing.”And while packing for the New Zealand season, Arthurand Rémy have both added their personal climbing, hikingand caving equipment and are staying on to experience NewZealand’s outdoors.“When I was a kid we looked at an atlas and talked aboutwhere we would like to go during life,” says Arthur. “I saw NewZealand on the map and I’d heard about all the mountains, theoceans and the wildlife and I said I’d like to go there. Comingto New Zealand is a dream come true and I can’t wait to gohiking, caving and canyoning.”66//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#218
Rémy LegeayArthur MeauxsooneRemy and Arthur are part of a company which specialises ingrand scale performances with most of the cast coming frombackgrounds in the outdoors industry – ropes specialists,caving and canyoning instructors, climbing experts,paragliders and base jumpers.Flying as an angel: Rémy LegeayPlace Des Anges is on in Auckland 13-15 March at Auckland Domain. Details aaf.co.nz/placedesangesADVENTUREMAGAZINE.CO.NZ 67
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