A TIMELINE OF MAJOR MOMENTS IN CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S HISTORY

1984: Ahead of the 450th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier to Quebec, the Quebec government hires the troupe of Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-croix. The new Cirque du Soleil creates its first show: Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil, performed in 11 communities in the province.

1985: The Cirque du Soleil stages shows in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls for the first time.

1987: Le Cirque Réinventé opens to rave reviews in California.

1990: Le Cirque Réinventé travels to London and Paris. Daniel Gauthier becomes president.

1994: The Cirque marks its 10th anniversary with Alegria, presented in Montreal. It will go on to 250 cities and be seen by 14 million spectators by 2013.

1998: The Cirque presents O, its first aquatic show, at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.

2001: Laliberté buys Gauthier’s share of the Cirque.

2003: Zumanity, a show for adults, is presented in another Las Vegas hotel.

2004: Daniel Lamarre becomes president and general manager of the Cirque, while Laliberté remains chair of the board.

2008: Laliberté sells 20 per cent of his company to Dubai-based interests, explaining that it was a strategic partnership and he will remain in sole control of the company.

2009: Laliberté travels to space.

2013: The Cirque lays off 400 employees, mainly in Montreal. Acrobat Sarah Guyard-guillot suffers a fatal 25-metre fall in Las Vegas.

2015: TPG Capital, an investment firm, buys a majority stake in the Cirque, with China’s Fosun Capital Group and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec taking minority shares. Laliberté remains a

minority owner.

2017: The Cirque buys Blue Man Productions, the company behind the Blue Man Group. It’s the first acquisition under the Cirque’s new ownership.

2018: The Cirque buys Vstar Entertainment Group and its Cirque Dreams division, branching out into family entertainment. The company specializes in youth entertainment, including the Paw Patrol live shows.

2019: The Cirque acquires The Works Entertainment, which produces magic shows The Illusionists and Now You See Me Live.

February 2020: Laliberté sells his remaining 10-per-cent stake in the Cirque to the Caisse de dépôt, which increases its share to 20 per cent.

March 2020: The Cirque lays off 4,700 employees, or 95 per cent of its workforce, and cancels 44 shows after revenue drops to near zero because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2020: With more than US$900 million in debt, the company considers its options, including creditor protection.

May 2020: With US$50 million in emergency financing from its shareholders, the Cirque begins officially looking for an investor or buyer or to renegotiate another injection of capital. The Quebec government offers a Us$200-million loan, with a clause that allows it to eventually acquire the company if the proposed restructuring is successful. The loan is also available if other potential buyers ask for it. Laliberté announces he intends to bid to take the Cirque back. Meanwhile, artists say they’re owed almost $1 million.

June 2020: The Cirque announces it has entered into creditor protection to restructure its debt and restart its activities with a new contract with its shareholders.