The French Bêtes de Foire Company will be performing a show that blurs the boundaries between visual theatre, live music, object theatre, manipulation and movement to build a stage experience that is as delicate as it is surprising, from 17 to 19 September at the Teatro Circo Price as part of the Month of the Clown.
The action takes place on a small, circular stage, surrounded by the audience and dominated by a suspended set that transforms the space into a dreamlike universe. There, the performers turn everyday objects into the main features of a poetic language in which hats seem to have a life of their own, animated piles of coats, moving fabrics and bodies suspended in the air constantly challenge the perception of spectators.
Without using words, the production offers an emotional journey sustained on the power of the image, mimes and live music. Violins, guitars, keyboards, percussion and unconventional instruments accompany each scene like another character, creating an atmosphere that oscillates between humour, melancholy and amazement.
The performance celebrates the ability of the circus to move audiences through simplicity, while also reviving the essence of traditional circus from a contemporary perspective, in which beauty emerges from imperfection and small gestures take on an extraordinary dimension.
Bêtes de Foire is a company founded by the circus performer, Laurent Cabrol and the actress and costume designer, Elsa De Witte. Both artists share a commitment to artisanal circus. Therefore, Cabrol, who trained at the Annie Fratellini School and has experience in companies such as Convoi Exceptionnel and Cirque Trottola, joins forces with De Witte, who comes from street theatre and specialises in the creation of stage universes built from reused materials and a visual narrative of great sensitivity.
Since the success of Bêtes de foire – Petit Théâtre de Gestes, which premièred in 2013 and was awarded the SACD Prize for Circus Arts in 2015, the company has established itself as one of the leading names in contemporary European circus. Their productions combine circus disciplines, object theatre, puppetry, dance, music and an aesthetic inspired by silent film.
Approximate Duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Recommended Age: Over the age of 8
Image Credit: © Vincent Muteau
