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Cirque du Soleil’s latest technicoloured production to enhance Prince George’s economic spectrum

AXEL to showcase figure skating, acrobatics, pyrotechnics, graphic arts
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

For a second time in two years, a Cirque du Soleil show will headline in Prince George.

While freestyle ice skating will remain as the centerpiece of stunts, acrobatics and entertainment, the theme of this new production will display a vibrancy of colour with an edge.

Cirque du Soleil’s AXEL will take over the CN Centre in June 2020, telling the story of a young graphic artist and rock musician going deep into his own hand-drawn universe while experiencing love, courage and perseverance.

Mayor Lyn Hall believes this show can help bring out the city’s fun side, noting the arts community has an integral role to giving Prince George a unique style.

“I think that we’re seeing more and more concerts and events coming to Prince George that are showing those types of attributes when it comes to technology,” he said this morning (Nov. 12) following the announcement.

“I’m really excited about this event and I think it’s just going to show to people this is what producers of events like Cirque can do when it comes to pyrotechnics and technology that they’re going to use and it displays and really promotes the arts.”

As part of the anticipation of Cirque’s 48th production, Mayor Hall was dressed in a white suit, but then later painted in an array of colours by Pinewood Elementary students.

The success of Cirque’s CRYSTAL in April 2018 saw more than 17,000 tickets sold to residents of the city and of the northern region as well.

Prince George will also be one of the first cities in Canada to witness AXEL for the first time, unlike other years when performers make B.C.’s north one of their final stops.

“It really puts us on the map when it comes to being able to provide this kind of entertainment to the residents of this city,” Hall added.

“All the work that Glen Mikkelsen [CN Centre Manager] does and his team to bring musical events to our city is also something we need to recognize more. We saw Elton John here, we’re going to see Alice Cooper here, we’re seeing a number of other events that are taking place and this just adds to the list.

Hall says this show alone has the potential to bring in over 20,000 visitors to the city and with AXEL set for the summer, it could lead to a big economic impact.

“Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, it’s not that far to drive. It’ll be in June, the weather will be good and I think what it does is that attracts people to this city not only to see the show, but to take a look at what we got here in Prince George. It really boosts the tourism piece and it helps us economically when you have shows like this.”

There will be seven AXEL shows at the CN Centre ranging in times from June 25 to 28, 2020.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 15) at 10 a.m. on TicketsNorth.ca.