Générik Vapeur
Générik Vapeur is a Marseille-based non-profit street-theater company that creates and tours large-scale outdoor performances combining actors, mechanical contraptions, aerial acrobatics, and pyrotechnics for international festivals, municipalities, and communities across 35+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersMarseille, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Générik Vapeur does
Générik Vapeur – Trafic d'Acteurs et d'Engins is a Marseille-based street-theater company (Association Loi 1901, registered 23 February 1984) that creates and tours large-scale outdoor theatrical productions combining actors, musicians, mechanical contraptions, aerial acrobatics, and pyrotechnics. The company's repertoire includes 13+ major productions spanning 1988 to 2024, with notable works such as Bivouac (1988), Les Champêtres (1991), TAXI (1997), Waterlitz – L'Omni Idéal-X (a 19-meter, 38-ton totem built from 8 shipping containers, 2012), La Deuche Joyeuse (2016), and Merci de votre accueil (2019, co-created with Gorilla Circus). Performances range from fixed nighttime spectacles (audiences of 500–15,000+) to ambulatory parades and community-based territory projects. The company is headquartered at La Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille's 15th arrondissement, and is co-directed by Pierre Berthelot and Caty Avram.
The company's underlying technology is principally mechanical and theatrical rather than digital: custom-built rigs such as the Waterlitz container totem, aerial systems developed with Gorilla Circus, mechanical musical instruments made from repurposed automotive and industrial parts (volutes métalliques, tulipes d'acier, engrenages), pyrotechnic installations, and large-format camera apparati. It operates as an independent non-profit with no parent company, no equity investors, and an open yearly membership model (adhesion via HelloAsso).
Générik Vapeur's revenue model is a hybrid of public cultural funding and event-driven performance fees. Core income comes from French Ministry of Culture (DGCA), DRAC PACA, Ville de Marseille, and European INTERREG grants; cross-channel support from Arts Council England; and direct contracts with international street-theater festivals (Aurillac, Viva Cité, Out There, Fantastic Feats London, FITCarrer, Gwangju Fringe, FAICP Bogota) and municipal cultural offices. Additional streams include co-production cost-sharing with partner companies (Lieux Publics, Atelier 231, Seachange Arts, Gorilla Circus, Xarxa Teatre, Fundacion Tchyminigagua, Kinetika), and minor revenue from publication sales such as the 2023 anniversary book. Distribution is exclusively B2B/field-sales through festival bookings and cultural-programming contracts; many performances are free to the public, with the company not publicly disclosing standard production pricing.
Générik Vapeur firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Générik Vapeur
- Legal name
- Générik Vapeur – Trafic d'Acteurs et d'Engins
- Website
- https://generikvapeur.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Générik Vapeur is a Marseille-based non-profit street-theater company that creates and tours large-scale outdoor performances combining actors, mechanical contraptions, aerial acrobatics, and pyrotechnics for international festivals, municipalities, and communities across 35+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Générik Vapeur industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Street Theater / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where Générik Vapeur is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marseille
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Générik Vapeur business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Cultural Funding: Générik Vapeur receives institutional support from the French Ministry of Culture (DGCA), regional councils, and municipal governments as a recognized cultural association (Association Loi 1901).
- Festival Performance Fees: The company earns revenue through contracted performances at international street theater festivals, cultural events, and municipal celebrations, with fees varying based on production scale and venue.
- Co-production Partnerships: Joint productions with partner organizations (Lieux Publics, Atelier 231, Seachange Arts, etc.) share production costs and generate performance revenue across multiple venues.
- Publication Sales: Sale of commemorative publications such as 'Générik Vapeur 40 ans de théâtre de rue' published by Éditions Deuxième époque.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free admission events (La Canopée du 15ème) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Générik Vapeur product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Générik Vapeur creates, produces, and tours large-scale outdoor street theater performances combining actors, musicians, custom-built mechanical contraptions, pyrotechnics, aerial acrobatics, and visual installations. The company maintains an active repertoire of 13+ productions (e.g., Bivouac, Waterlitz, La Deuche Joyeuse, Merci de votre accueil, La Canopée du 15ème) presented at international festivals, municipal events, and cultural celebrations. It also provides artistic residencies, educational programs (Actions de Territoire), the 36 du mois emerging-artist event series, and co-production partnerships from its home base at La Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille.
Product overview
Générik Vapeur is a Marseille-based street theater company (théâtre de rue) founded in 1984, creating large-scale outdoor performances featuring actors, musicians, mechanical installations, aerial acrobatics, and pyrotechnics. The company's core offering is its repertoire of street theater shows (spectacles) including iconic works like Bivouac (1988), Les Champêtres (1991), Waterlitz (2012), and La Deuche Joyeuse (2016). The company operates as both a production company for original creations and a cultural hub providing artistic residencies (accueils en résidence), educational programs (Actions de Territoire), and event programming (36 du mois) at La Cité des arts de la rue. Its productions range from fixed nighttime spectacles like Waterlitz (19m container totem) to mobile déambulations like Jamais 203 (cycling parade) and Bivouac (blue figures), often involving audience participation and large-scale scenic elements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bivouac Iconic street theater déambulation in which performers in blue costumes take over city streets seeking a pyramid gathering point, blending rock music with theatrical interventions. Available as a touring repertoire production.
- Les Champêtres Silent film-style street theater déambulation featuring 14 cyclists as field guards who traverse a city causing urban chaos. Touring repertoire production.
- TAXI - Société de Traffics en Tous Genres 3-hour street theater opus about urban traffic, immobilization, and theatrical traffic jams featuring taxis and urban mobility metaphors. Touring repertoire production.
- La Photo Communale Participatory street photography performance where an enormous camera apparatus with photographers wanders through the city, photographing inhabitants; final photo printed on large-format banner. 16 performers. Available in 2025.
- Waterlitz - L'Omni Idéal-X Fixed nighttime spectacle featuring a 19m tall, 38-ton totem built from 8 assembled shipping containers with articulated arms, pivotable head, integrated pyrotechnics, video, and aerial ballet. 22 performers. Touring repertoire production.
- Drôles d'oiseaux et art blaxon
Quantifiable outcome
- Toured internationally to 35+ countries including China, Brazil, Madagascar, Morocco, Lebanon, Burkina Faso, Turkey, Colombia, Canada, UK, Italy, Korea
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Générik Vapeur
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Générik Vapeur technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Générik Vapeur partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Xarxa TeatrecoreCo-creation partnership with Xarxa Teatre (Spain) for the production XL, premiered at FITCarrer festival in Vila-real, Spain in May 2023. Collaboration combining both companies' expertise in large-scale street theater.
- Gorilla CircuscoreFranco-British artistic collaboration with specialist grand volant (large aerial circus) company. Co-created 'Merci de votre accueil' (2019), combining Générik Vapeur's theater of actors and machines with Gorilla Circus's aerial acrobatics expertise.
- KinetikaflagshipPartnership for En Flag, a project labeled as part of the Cultural Olympiad Paris 2024. Involves artistic workshops creating flags with Kinetika and associated artists, culminating in a parade for the Olympic Torch Relay.
- Fundacion TchyminigaguacoreColombian street theater company and long-term artistic partner. Collaboration on Blas de Lezo creation for Festival Artístico Internacional Invasión de Cultura Popular in Bogota (2024), building on previous residencies at La Cité des arts de la rue.
- Lieux Publics – CNAREPflagshipCo-production partnership with France's national center for arts in public space. Co-produced La Canopée du 15ème as part of Un été aux Aygalades programming.
- Atelier 231 – CNAREPflagshipLongstanding partnership with the national center for street arts in Sotteville-lès-Rouen. Multiple residencies including Merci de votre accueil creation and ongoing artistic support.
- Seachange ArtscoreUK-based arts organization hosting Générik Vapeur productions at Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth. Co-producer of Merci de votre accueil for UK performances.
- Ville de LondrescoreMunicipal cultural partnership for Fantastic Feats festival programming in London. Co-producer of Merci de votre accueil 2019 UK tour.
- ZEPA (Zone Européenne de Projets Artistiques)coreEuropean artistic projects zone network for street arts development, supported by INTERREG IV A France-England cross-border cooperation program. Waterlitz created specifically for this network.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Générik Vapeur competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Générik Vapeur social profiles
Digital presenceGénérik Vapeur financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Générik Vapeur leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Générik Vapeur funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Générik Vapeur M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Générik Vapeur
What does Générik Vapeur do?
Générik Vapeur creates, produces, and tours large-scale outdoor street theater performances combining actors, musicians, custom-built mechanical contraptions, pyrotechnics, aerial acrobatics, and visual installations. The company maintains an active repertoire of 13+ productions (e.g., Bivouac, Waterlitz, La Deuche Joyeuse, Merci de votre accueil, La Canopée du 15ème) presented at international festivals, municipal events, and cultural celebrations. It also provides artistic residencies, educational programs (Actions de Territoire), the 36 du mois emerging-artist event series, and co-production partnerships from its home base at La Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille.
Is Générik Vapeur a public or private company?
Générik Vapeur is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Générik Vapeur founded?
Générik Vapeur was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Générik Vapeur based?
Générik Vapeur is headquartered in Marseille, France, in the Europe region.
How does Générik Vapeur make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Cultural Funding is the primary driver. The others are festival Performance Fees, co-production Partnerships and publication Sales.
Does Générik Vapeur have an API?
No public API is recorded for Générik Vapeur.
What industry is Générik Vapeur in?
Générik Vapeur's product category is Street Theater / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAI, Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7990.