A new approach
Marc Boon (director/screenwriter): “After six centuries, the organizing Lede Procession Committee felt the time was right to give this heritage event a new direction. As director and screenwriter, I was asked to develop this new format. It became a mass reenactment. Lucas Van den Eynde played the lead role, supported by more than 300 actors and extras.’
A pop-up theater
Transforming a procession into an evocative performance is no easy feat. You’re taking a dynamic, itinerant event and turning it into a spectacle with all the trappings of theater.
“The organization faced a real challenge. Not only did they have to completely overhaul the event’s setup, but the logistics involved in pulling something like this off were entirely different. On the one hand, they had to provide a large seating area (in this case, a grandstand with 1,000 seats); on the other hand, they also had to install a great deal of technical equipment to ensure an optimal experience for the entire event. In short, a real pop-up theater sprang up in the Lede market.”
Experience and vision as a foundation
While searching for partners to successfully handle the many technical aspects of theater production, market research led them to D-Dream. And that turned out to be a good choice.
Luc Rasschaert (Chair of the Procession Committee): “For the Procession Committee, this reenactment required a completely different approach in terms of preparation and execution. It was therefore important that we could rely on a company with the necessary expertise and resources to carry this out in a professional and cost-effective manner. D-Dream proved to be the ideal choice for us.” “From the very beginning, they worked with us to strike a balance between the production’s requirements, the director’s vision, and the budget. And—thanks to all the actors—we succeeded in doing just that.”
The task D-dream was tasked with was quite diverse and complex. High standards were set for both the audio and visual aspects.
Marc Boon: “The entire performance was supported by a pre-recorded audio track. Only the lead actor, Lucas Van den Eynde, performed his role live through a headset. D-Dream and its technicians succeeded in delivering optimal intelligibility and an exceptional auditory experience. This is no small feat for an open-air spectacle, where the wind can often be an unpredictable spoilsport.” Visually, too, a great deal of equipment was brought in to fully illuminate the large stage (30/20 meters), with St. Martin’s Church serving as an imposing backdrop, in a multitude of beautiful and creative atmospheric shots. The use of lighting towers and moving heads—also installed inside the church to create the necessary ambiance from within—resulted in impressive visuals. “For both lighting and sound, having state-of-the-art equipment and the right qualified personnel proved to be a real asset.”
Ready for the future
Luc Rasschaert: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the incredibly enthusiastic and glowing responses from the audience, the press, and the many participants. Everyone raved about a captivating performance in which the cutting-edge technology created an unforgettable spectacle. D-Dream was invaluable in this regard. Their team consists not only of creative wizards, but above all of positive and passionate people who know exactly what they’re doing.” All of this helps them build the perfect bridge to the “occasional event planners” that we ultimately are. We all did such a great job that the bar has been set pretty high for any potential follow-up. So we’re definitely ready for the future.”
