The performance Between us is a product of international project The generosity experience that started in spring 2010 as a collaboration between sensorial theatres from Denmark, Belgium, France and Slovenia under the leadership of Enrique Vargas, the founder of sensorial theatre and one of the most influential directors of the past decades. He conquered the world’s biggest festivals with his magic poetry. His Oracle of the senses from 1996 left an indelible mark on Slovenia as well. Vargas’s Barcelona-based Teatro de los sentidos (besides wining numerous international awards, the theatre was also awarded the UNESCO award at the famous Columbian theatre Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro) gave birth to the Senzorium theatre, regarded as the world-wide pioneer of sensorial theatre.
Between us searches for inspiration in generosity, a value that is completely marginalized in the current neoliberal society and as such inexorably keeps losing the prestige of an ideal. Citing one of the foremost American thinkers and social critics, Christopher Lasch: People nowadays cant, that they are unable to feel anything. They chase diverse experiences, trying to reanimate their limp bodies and rejuvenate their numbed zest for life. They condemn the superego and glorify the lost sensual life. During the performance, through staging of a village/place in the open, youngsters (picked through auditions in contributing countries, under the mentoring of hardened directors and with the help of sensorial perceptions) take the spectator through playful scenes, opening questions about the system of values, the worth of generosity and interpersonal relationships, bridging the void between empathic and entropic forces within and between ourselves.
The whole international cast of more then 40 people from four countries assembled in July 2012 in Turnhout, Belgium under the leadership of E. Vargasa. Four modules of the performance (Danish, Belgian, French and Slovenian) connected into a whole. They premiered on 13th of July in Turnhout, Belgium under the wings of the Flemish cultural capitol with five repeat performances, followed by France in Rennes and Ouray and Denmark in Viborg. Their momentum will bring them to Maribor on the 7th and 8th of August, where they will perform as part of the European capitol of culture in “Mestni Park Maribor 6” at 19:00.
Two documentaries will be produced, documenting the process of creation of the Slovenian part of the performance and the whole tour.
Artistic director: Enrique Vargas
Directing and scenography by: Benoit Gasnier, Sarah John, Barbara Pia Jenič, Jean-Marie Oriot, Julie Seiller, Inge Van Gestel
Idea: Inge Van Gestel
Performers: Audrey Apers, Katrine Bøtker Laursen, Marieke Breyne, Veronika Brinjšek, Lucille Carlotti, Nace Klemenčič, Maruša Čot, Elvira Crois, Aranka De Vries, Margaux Desailly, Lea Filipovič, Benoît Gasnier, Kim Glud, Gabriel Eduardo Hernadez Ladino, Julie Houbart, Alberte Husted Larsen, Simon Janssen, Raphaël Janvier, Barbara Pia Jenič, Sarah John, Urška Klajn, Irma Leroy, Katrine Lundorff, Jonathan Mallard, Amalie Middelboe Andersen, Sigrid Cecilie Moses-Jacobsen, Amalie Munkgaard Olesen, Jean-Marie Oriot, William Petipas, Valentina Plaskan, Thomas Porup, Anja Prusnik, Pierre Riaux-Terrasson, Rebecca Rosseel, Ariane Sartor, Julie Seiller, Lore Soons, Olivia Thomsen, Nina Tind Jensen, Vitomil Bulc Trtnik, Eline Van Coillie, Inge Van Gestel, Liv Vesterskov, Laetitia Viveret
Co-production: De Warande (B), De generaal in zijn tuin (B), Carte Blanche (DK), Théâtre à l’envers (F), Senzorium (SI)
The project is funded by EACEA Culture Programme 2007-2013, media support by RTV SLO.