Your special effects, designed by Celesta.
Flames, cold sparks, fog, confetti and lasers. Celesta designs and activates its stage special effects on a timed schedule, both indoors and outdoors, without going through a hire company.
- T2-certified pyrotechnicians
- Own equipment fleet
- Indoors and outdoors
T1 and T2 articles for stage special effects
The articles used fall under categories T1 and T2 of the decree of 4 May 2010, designed for the stage: short range, controlled fallout, time-code triggering. Category T2 requires a qualification that Celesta holds in-house.
- T1 and T2 theatre articles, designed for the stage
- Timecode-triggered, accurate to the second on the tape
- Category T2 requires a certificate of competence or prefectural approval
Flames, sparks, fog, confetti
We choose each effect for the moment in the running order it has to mark.
Flames and stage pyrotechnics
Jets, plumes, comets and low-smoke effects. We keep them for stages that can take their heat and volume.
Cold Sparks
Low-temperature light beams with no incandescent fallout. We also use them under low ceilings.
Fog and thick smoke
Low-lying layers, columns and veils. We use it to make the beams visible and give depth to the stage.
Confetti, lasers and sound and light
A finale, a reveal, an entrance: we time these effects to the precise moment, on the time-code.
Regulatory benchmarks and lead times
T1 et T2
the two categories of theatre articles used
25 June 1980
the regulation governing fire safety in premises open to the public
1,000 and more
Performances by the Celesta teams
48 hours
to receive a detailed quotation
Special effects in venues open to the public
A venue open to the public has its own set of rules: the Order of 25 June 1980 sets out the framework for fire safety, and the site manager must approve each item before it is installed. We check ceiling height, ventilation and fire detection before choosing an effect.
- Preliminary assessment and approval by the site’s safety manager
- Smoke density set to the actual ventilation
- Fire detection isolated in agreement with the operator
- We flag what will not work before quoting
Our own equipment
The equipment belongs to us, the products come from our ICPE-classified depot, and the operators who run them are the ones who wrote the sequence.
- Equipment that is known, serviced and maintained by those who operate it
- Products tracked from the ICPE-licensed storage facility at Aigremont
- Operators holding the T2 qualification, employed by the company
Special effects and other disciplines
We combine special effects with the other disciplines our teams handle in-house, on a single running order.
Pyrotechnic show
Outdoors, we link the stage effects to a scripted display on the same running order.
Sound and light show
For long evenings, we set the sound and light show and the special effects on the same time-code.
Multimedia production
When performers are on stage, we write the effects with them, in rehearsal.
Drone light show
Fleets of 200 to more than 2,000 drones, with a flight file submitted at least 45 days before the show.
Describe your venue
Ceiling height, capacity, ventilation and the occasion you wish to celebrate. Within 48 hours, you will receive a detailed quotation, setting out what will be excluded and why.
- Indoor and outdoor venues
- Aigremont and Normandy
- We’ll get back to you within 48 hours
Your questions about special effects
Are cold sparks dangerous?
They produce a low-temperature beam of light with no incandescent fallout: this is what sets them apart from a conventional pyrotechnic display. When operated by a qualified operator, within a defined area and using a well-maintained machine, they are suitable for enclosed spaces and stage entrances.
Is it possible to create special effects in a venue open to the public?
Yes, under the provisions of the Order of 25 June 1980 on fire safety. A preliminary assessment determines what the venue can accommodate, and the venue’s safety officer must approve this before installation. Cold sparks, smoke and confetti are permitted almost everywhere; jets of flame, rarely.
What is the difference between special effects and fireworks displays?
The product category, and therefore the regulations. The theatrical display uses T1 and T2 theatre fireworks, which are short-range and have controlled fallout, designed to be set off close to the audience. Fireworks displays are subject to a different set of regulations, different distances and a different classification.
Does Celesta hire out its equipment to other service providers?
No. The equipment is used for our own productions: our operators set up and know every machine they run, and we can assess the feasibility of an effect before we have even seen the venue.
How long does it take to set up a sequence of effects?
The timing itself is set during rehearsals, on site, once the soundtrack is locked. Beforehand, we allow time for surveying the venue, obtaining the venue operator’s approval and sourcing the items. Allow several weeks if the venue is open to the public.
Which clients do you work for?
Local authorities for their ceremonies and celebrations, businesses for their product launches and conferences, agencies and producers for their branded events, and festivals and clubs for live performances. The same teams handle all four, based in Aigremont and Normandy.