PREMIERE : September 2015
In „The Ghosts“ Constanza Macras undertakes an artistic approach to the People’s Republic of China through a social fringe group: circus performers. It seems as if the acrobats, who once achieved fame and glory for their country, have been forgotten and „discarded“ by Chinese society, even though many of them are still very young. Bringing the present situation of these artists closer to the audience is particularly appropriate because, due to the 2000 year old history of Chinese acrobatics, important philosophical guiding principles as well as historical and cultural Chinese aspects can be found in it. What gaps does China’s economic catch-up cause in their society? And how does an acrobat live today in this constantly changing society? Starting from the condition of the „hungry ghosts“ in Chinese ghost mythology, in whose condition the „isolated being“ of the acrobats is reflected, Constanza Macras confronts these questions in order to deal with a social group that is largely unknown and regarded as inferior in China. Macras‘ „THE GHOSTS“ is now intended to temporarily enable the acrobats to return to life. They are to become visible with their history. In addition to four members of her company Constanza Macras | DorkyPark, Macras has cast five Chinese circus acrobats and a Chinese musician. As always, Macras approaches her subject with different theatrical means such as dance, music and text.
Cast
Direction, choreography: Constanza Macras
Dramaturgy: Carmen Mehnert
By and with: Emil Bordas, Fernanda Farah, Daisy Phillips, Yi Liu, Juliana Neves, Huanhuan Zhang, Huimin Zhang, Xiaorui Pan, Lu Ge, Chico Mello, Wu Wei
Music: Chico Mello in collaboration with Wu Wei, Jiannan Chen, Fernanda Farah, Yi Liu
Assistant music: Jiannan Chen
Lighting: Sergio Pessanha
Video, photo design: Manuel Osterholt
Stage design: Janina Audick
Stage design assistance: Veronica Wüst
Costumes: Alison Saunders
Costume assistance: Ottavia Tröster
Assistant director: Nikoletta Fischer
Interns: Alba Duno, Ariella Karatolou, Chin Kuo, Sina Manthey, Paul Rabe, Ottavia Tröster, Roberta Petit
Translation: Chao Liu, Maureen Luo Yuebing
Surtitles: Carmen Mehnert, Paul Rabe, Maureen Luo Yuebing
Production management: Katharina Wallisch
Production office: René Dombrowski
Production Intern: Magda Zielinska
Administration: Susanne Kern
Tour Management: Ricardo Frayha
International Relations: Rui Silveira
Production Manager China: Xiao Yu
Production Assistance: Chao Liu
A production by Constanza Macras | DorkyPark and Goethe Institut China in co-production with Tanz im August, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del FVG, Udine and the Guangdong Dance Festival. Supported by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, the Governing Mayor of Berlin – Senate Chancellery – Cultural Affairs and by the Cultural Administration of the State of Berlin. With the kind support of Garden Hotel, Guangzhou.
Past Show:
- 03 – 04 September 2015: Tanz im August Schaubühne, Berlin
- 05 / 07 – 08 September 2015: Schaubühne, Berlin
- 11 November 2015: Guangdong Dance Festival, Guangzhou, China
- 17 – 18 April 2016: Theater Fabbricone, Prato
- 21 April 2016: Theater Contatto 34 – Far East Film Festival, Udine
- 10 – 11 March 2017: Der Große Saal, Berlin
