C!CAF wishes to celebrate and support talented emerging creators who in their works challenge, push and develop the contemporary circus art form. We therefore dedicate Thursday in the festival program to this year’s CircusNext Laureates!
In the double program LAUREATES NIGHT we present: MATERIA (WORK IN PROGRESS) by Andrea Salustri (IT) and CONTRA by Laura Murphy (GB). Both are CircusNext Laureates 2018-19.
MATERIA – A fantasmagoric play with light, wind, body and polystyrene!
Salustri fuses juggling, object manipulation and dance in his research into the materiality of polystyrene.
The latter becoming the protagonist – the performer it’s mere servant. In this suggestionizing universe your senses are being challenged: is this a glance into the outer space or a glimpse into the atomic structures of your own body?
Andrea Salustri has been working as a street artist. In 2013 he graduated cum laude in Philosophy at La Sapienza University in Rome, then decided to move to Berlin to pursue an education in contemporary dance. He first completed the Dance Intensive program at Tanzfabrik Berlin, and successively studied dance and choreography at HZT Berlin University. He has been selected as a CircusNext Laureate 2018-2019.
Strobe lighting will be used during this performance.
CONTRA – an uncompromising and witty feminist-circus-comedy!
Drawing from circus, stand-up and live art, Contra is an autobiographical solo cabaret of contradictions. Using a rope and a roll of cling film, Laura Murphy sets her experiences of her own body amidst an anecdotal tapestry of body hair observations on public transport and dinner table discussions about lesbian sex.
Dark, witty and uncompromising – Contra interrogates personal, social and historical occupations of the female body, and explores – literally – where such bodies are positioned and how we are meant to look at them.
Laura Murphy is a physical performer, theatre maker and academic researcher, working across circus, live art and contemporary performance. She likes talking – a lot – and explores how her aerial rope practice contradicts and intersects with the ethics of live art. How can the use of loops, knots, drops and vertical space give new meaning to ideas, which go far beyond the virtuosity of performing tricks or death-defying feats?
Laura Murphy is a PhD Candidate at the University of Sheffield and a CircusNext Laureate in 2018-2019.
Expect nudity and explicit references to sex.
In Pakhus 11, Thursday 28/3, 20.00
Credits – Materia:
Creation and performance: Andrea Salustri
Creative aids: Kalle Nio, Roman Müller, Darragh McLoughlin, Alex Lempert, Ben Richter, Matthias Buhrow
Sound design: Federico Coderoni
Technical director: Michele Piazzi
With support from CircusNext European Platform coordinated by Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe and supported by the European Union, Espace Périphérique, La Maison des Jonglages, the residency program of CHAMÄLEON Productions funded by Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe and the Telepart program of the Finnish institute in Germany
Credits – Contra:
Performance: Laura Murphy
Director: Ursula Martinez
Production: Nicole A’Court Stuart
Lighting & sound: Katie Davies
Early Stage mentoring: Terry O’Connor
Choreographic support: Madeleine McGowan
With support from CircusNext (Laureate 2018-2019), European Programme coordinated by Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe and supported by the European Union, Arts Council England, Jacksons Lane, Hangar Arts Trust, Island Bristol and Invisible Circus.