As the pandemic casts a shadow on the holiday spirit and plunges the entertainment industry into precariousness, the Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu entertainment company, Les Productions Katomix, is experiencing resounding success.
Founded and managed by the founder and artist François Piché, the company specializing in entertainment has been in demand for several years by the cities of the region, including Saint-Mathias, Carignan and Chambly, to present various workshops, shows and events to citizens.
A collective of artists
“We call on around twenty artists, many of whom come from the circus world. », François confides to the newspaper. “It shows in the making of our costumes. Judging also by the agility of the jugglers, actors and animators who bring the imagined shows to life, the troupe’s circus skills prove to be an undeniable asset for Les Productions Katomix.
A transformed offer
With the pandemic and the ban on gatherings, we had to reinvent ourselves while “saving the Holidays”. The cities turned to François and his team to offer the population a host of interactive activities with a magical flavor, adapted to the health context. “We’ve been in business for 12 years. We are always present at celebratory, entertainment and animation events, particularly in Carignan and Chambly. Usually, we are public entertainers in the flesh, and there, we have transformed into virtual entertainers. We opened a virtual service with a studio, and what we offer are capsules according to the theme of the moment. We made it for Halloween, and now we’re making it for the holidays. We even do tailor-made by writing tales as needed. With the virtual, we explore interactive avenues. “
Meeting Santa Claus is one of the activities of Productions Katomix which were offered by the City of Carignan this winter. On December 10, the City invited families to plan an interactive virtual tête-à-tête with Santa Claus, between December 19 and 21. Barely two days later, the time slots had already all been reserved, to the chagrin of some parents. On the pages of the city’s social networks, grateful Internet users share their experience. “We just met Santa Claus virtually! What a great initiative from the city of Carignan and what a great organization of Productions Katomix! », Says Genevieve Tremblay, a participant.
“In Carignan, Santa Claus in virtual mode worked very well. We made 90 meetings with families. “- François Piché
François is delighted with this reception. “In Carignan, Santa Claus in virtual mode worked very well. We made 90 meetings with families. We really had positive comments every day about this activity, we couldn’t believe it! The City is currently inviting its citizens to watch as a family “throughout the holiday season” a virtual tale from Productions Katomix, entitled A naughty elf at Santa Claus, available as video clips on the web. Just send an email to [email protected] to receive a link that will allow you to discover an incredible story in video.
A family matter
François’s daughter, Dahlia, also co-hosts the virtual DIY workshops Dahlia explains to you, in capsule form which can occupy during confinement. “The concept is a little girl of seven who meets people who are going to explain something. It could be a game, a craft, or cooking. Children are very interested when another child explains a process to them. It is meant to be quite dynamic. “
A good shot that brings the show to life
While the entertainment and show industry took a nosedive during the pandemic, François explains that Les Productions Katomix has never been relaxed. “We never stopped. Our turnover has remained the same. We did it in advance. I started in March to make virtual capsules. With the activities designed for this medium, and the parades that we also did in several cities, we were busy in November and December. We did a little parade in Carignan in the summer. By combining outdoor activities with that of the Web, the entertainment visionary intends to make his services ubiquitous, while allowing families to navigate the pandemic with a lighter heart. “At the moment, we are developing the activity My park in virtual mode, for all ages, aiming to make discover the city parks by means of rallies in hybrid mode between the virtual and the physical walk. People need to get out and get some fresh air. They can do it with our activities organized in the parks, then come home to consume our capsules, our juggling training and our shows in virtual mode. “
Question to readers:
What do you think of the activities offered by the City of Carignan in partnership with Les Productions Katomix?
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