La posibilidad que desaparece frente al paisaje – Possibilities that Disappear Before a Landscape
The Barcelona company El Conde de Torrefiel sculpts surprising, seemingly dormant landscapes throbbing with underlying, unacknowledged chaos. A theatrical excursion like an exhibit of contemporary art.
Cities in crisis. A tranquil citizenry. Portraying the suffering in 10 cities by means of enigmatic, strangely peaceful narration, the Barcelona duo El Conde de Torrefiel submits Europe to a piercing gaze, creating active yet also meditative theatre that tells the tale of a continent where a nasty storm is brewing.
Creators of subtle ambiences, these up-and-coming artists are increasingly attracting attention on the European scene, sculpting surprising, seemingly dormant worlds with an underlying, unacknowledged chaos lurking within. Madrid, Berlin, Marseille, Lisbon, Kiev, Brussels, Thessalonica, Warsaw, Lanzarote and Florence are troubled cities portrayed in a series of performative tableaux. With evocative bodies, bittersweet atmospheres, an inflatable castle, plastic bags, a gong, houseplants, this theatrical excursion is like an exhibit of contemporary art. Invoking artists and intellectuals such as Michel Houellebecq, Spencer Tunick and Zygmunt Bauman, they trace the cartography of the subterranean barbarity hidden under our feet. Disconcerting.
Produced by El Conde de Torrefiel
Ideated and created by El Conde de Torrefiel in association with les interprètes / performers
Direction and dramaturgy Tanya Beyeler + Pablo Gisbert
Written by Pablo Gisbert
Performed by Nicolás Carbajal Cerchi + David Mallols + Tirso Orive Liarte + Albert Pérez Hidalgo
Voice Tanya Beyeler
Lighting design Octavio Más
Set design Jorge Salcedo
Music Rebecca Praga + Salacot
Sound design Adolfo García
Choreographed by Amaranta Velarde
Pictures Claudia Pajewski + Ainara Pardal
Co-produced by Festival TNT de Terrassa + Graner Espai de creació de Barcelona + El lugar sin límites / Teatro Pradillo / CDN Madrid
With the support of Programa IBERESCENA (Madrid) + La FuNdicIÓn Bilbao – ICEC – Generalitat de Catalunya + Antic Teatre de Barcelona + Institut Ramón LLull (Barcelona) + ICEC – Generalitat de Catalunya + INAEM Ministerio de Cultural (Madrid)
Presented in association with Centre PHI
Written by Philippe Couture
Translated by Neil Kroetsch
Premiered at CDN Sala Valle-Inclán, Madrid, on June 18, 2015
El Conde de Torrefiel (Barcelone)
He is Spanish, she is Swiss, and their encounter in Barcelona has led to aesthetically refined performances that have made their company, El Conde de Torrefiel, a leading figure on the new Spanish scene.
