Cirque meets staff amid layoff reports

MONTREAL - The world-renowned Cirque du soleil will be meeting with staff on Wednesday amid reports that up to 600 people could be laid off.

Renee-Claude Menard, the Cirque's senior director of public relations, said Tuesday she would not comment about layoff speculation until the staff meeting.

However, she confirmed the famed organization is conducting a major review of its operations in light of "our recent production adjustments."

"It is a completely normal adjustment for any type of company," she said.

The Cirque still has 19 productions being presented worldwide and is currently working on a new show that will open in May in Las Vegas, Menard added. She said another touring production that will open in the spring of 2014 in Montreal is also in the works.

Four shows besides the 19 still on stage have closed recently. The organization's website also lists a slate of international premieres in January.

Menard described the gathering on Wednesday as an annual meeting with employees "where we will update them and keep them abreast of where we are at in our review," she said.

The Cirque employs about 5,000 people worldwide, including 2,000 at its head office in Montreal.