Behind the Curtain — The rigging system gets a historic upgrade.

Since 1971, the rigging system in the Louis-Fréchette Hall has lifted sets, lighting and curtains for every production at the Grand Théâtre de Québec. After half a century of service, this critical stage infrastructure is undergoing a historic modernization — a year-long project in three phases, without interrupting the programming.

MarketingSTRAT produced the documentary video that tells this transformation story. The brief: make visible what the audience never sees — the complex machinery that makes the shows work — and explain the scope of the renovation in an accessible, engaging way.

What you never see

Every show at the Grand Théâtre depends on dozens of rigging lines that raise and lower lighting, screens, curtains and set elements. Technicians rig these components before each performance. It's the silent infrastructure that makes the magic possible on stage.

Every time you come to see a show, there are elements that are rigged — whether it's lighting, sound, screens, curtains. All of those items are rigged by technicians on the battens. — Steeve Simard, Programming Coordinator, Grand Théâtre de Québec

The approach

Christian Gómez filmed in the inner workings of the Grand Théâtre — spaces the public never sees. The fly loft above the stage, the control systems, the rigging lines in full operation. The result is a video that gives privileged access to the backstage of one of the most important cultural institutions in the Quebec City region, while clearly explaining the technical stakes of the renovation.

The result

The video is published on the Grand Théâtre's official website in the "Our Chronicles" section and serves as the primary communication piece to inform the public, partners and artists about the progress of the work. It transforms a technical subject into engaging content that reinforces transparency and trust in the institution.