Tens of thousands of revelers have already entered the building which then bore the name of L’Atlantide, Macumba, Côte Ouest or King Club. But today they would be hard pressed to recognize anything, the scenery has changed so much. AT Vigneux-de-Bretagne (Loire-Atlantique), on the edge of the busy Nantes-Vannes dual carriageway, the former nightclub, the largest in the Nantes region, closed its doors six years ago. After being unoccupied for a long time, the site has been reborn since the end of January with a new, resolutely ambitious activity. Sébastien Vaudez, the buyer, has indeed transformed the establishment into a complex combining cabaret and workspaces: Circles.
“It’s the project of a lifetime”, immediately announces the Ile-de-France, entrepreneur in events for more than 20 years, who has already invested more than 1.5 million euros and is preparing to spend some the same over the next few months. “Electricity, lighting, sound, kitchens, dressing rooms… We redid everything from floor to ceiling. It took a big year of work but it was necessary. I am very happy with the result. No one expects to see that here. »
“In the category of the greatest cabarets in France”
The main room offers a capacity of 600 seats. Its large stage, its panoramic vision and its 100 m2 of LED screens are impressive. “There is no equivalent in the west. With such equipment, we enter the category of the greatest cabarets in France”, rejoices Sébastien Vaudez. a hundred of representations *, preceded by a dinner, are scheduled for 2022, mainly at weekends. “These are sung and danced shows, with a part of magic. There are feathers, rhinestones, elegance, large paintings with twelve artists on stage,” explains Sébastien Vaudez.
For the time being, the Circles are working with an already established troupe. But from September, the establishment will have its own review, composed of 16 and 20 artists. Not to mention the 45 employees called upon on performance days. “Cabarets are a French tradition, currently in full expansion. It was missing here in Nantes I think. Our audience ranges from 20 to 75, it’s much larger than you might think. We also have requests from associations and works councils. » The stage can also be made available from time to time for concerts or outdoor shows.
“Three years to make themselves known”
But the Circles are not just a cultural hall. Much of the activity is geared towards professionals. A second room, fully modular, can accommodate up to 300 people for a seminar or convention. A third, smaller, offers a space of conviviality for about sixty guests. There is even a large terrace, an outdoor bar and a wooded park. “There is great potential for sunny days. This is an aspect that we would like to develop”, specifies Sébastien Vaudez.
For the moment, given the launch and the still fragile health context, attendance is “modest”. “You have to make yourself known, by being patient. We give ourselves three years to shoot properly. Eventually, the Circles hope to increase to 150 annual shows and total 65,000 seats. As for the seminars, the establishment wishes to reach 25,000 professionals per year.
* From 45 euros per person, without drinks. From 80 euros the formula with meal