Atlas Montreal

  •  North-American Opening
  • Theater
  • Artists : Ana Borralho & João Galante (Portugal) + 100 citizens
  • Dates : Friday 11th September 2015 at 7pm and Saturday 12th September 2015 at 3pm
  • Place : Maison de la culture de Frontenac (2550 Rue Ontario E, Montréal, QC H2K 1W7) – Métro Frontenac (green line)
  • Price : voluntary contribution
  • Duration : 1h10. Show in french

A COLLECTIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE

           « We are the revolution ». It is inspired by this saying, that the German artist Joseph Beuys, Ana Borralho and João Galante put together on the stage 100 persons. This crowd formed by citizens, symbolizes the society, but also wants to shake it. In this Atlas of the humanity made by morphologies, professions, generations and different social positions, the individuals are ready to make themselves heard.

In Greek mythology, Atlas is a famous Titan who carries on his shoulders the world. Through their performance, the two artists try to ‘’carry’’ the cities they visited through the words of 100 citizens. Coming from different places, the participants are invited to use the setting as an agora, an arena. Reinventing the complex and critical theatre this panoramic view tries to paint a picture of the diversity of the city of Montreal.

Ana Borralho and João Galante build this way a very simple and interactive performance. The project is inspired by the ideas of the German artist Joseph Beuys « we are the revolution » and « everybody is an artist » who spread the art concept in all life fields and invented the term of « social sculpture ». Atlas brings to light a local society in an international project (the show was presented since 2011 in 30 cities through 15 countries) and holds onto the idea that humanity is both, one and countless.

Atlas’s meaning is being drawn from a children’s rhyme : « If an elephant disturbs many people, two elephants disturb even more, if two elephants disturb many people etc ». The word elephant is replaced by the profession of those present. The first part of the phrase is said by the one who just entered the scene, the second part by the choir that grows little by little.

Atlas Montréal makes heard the voices, the identities and the professions of those participating through the words of men and women in their own language and offering the way to map a city, drawing a landscape through its residents who will live a real human adventure.

If you want to participate in this human adventure and be a part of the 100 persons, sign up by clicking here.

« If everybody uses their creativity, all will be free. »– Ana Borralho et João Galante

«An unusual experience of participatory democracy and more subversive than it would seem at a first sight.»                                                                                       – Jean Michel Le Blanc – Sud-Ouest-10 janvier 2015

                « We work with reality, with the material people bring us. There is a structure, but the persons are the ones who decide what they want to say. We have a solid choreography, but within which anything can happen. Like the Danish artist Olafur Eliasson said « having an experience is being a part of this world. And taking your place in this world, is sharing the responsibility ». We would like for people to find themselves in their performance, to have an impact on their lives and on their community. » –      Interview by Eric Dausset, Théâtral magazine, October 2014.

  • Performers : 100 people of different professions
  • Conceit, light et artistic direction : Ana Borralho et João Galante
  • Advisor lithning design : Thomas Walgrave
  • Son : Coolgate
  • Conseiller artistic consultant : Fernando J. Ribeiro
  • Dramaturgical Collaboration : Rui Catalão
  • Artistic collaboration and coordination of the group : André Uerba, Anonia Buresi, Catarine Gonçalves, Cátia Leitão (Alface) et Tiago Gandra
  • Executive production and coordination of the group : Andrea Sozzi
  • Production Management : Mónica Samões
  • Production : casaBranca
  • Coproduction : Théâtre Municipal Maria Matos ( Lisbon)
  • Résidence : Atelier Real (Alkantara)
  • Atlas is supported by Junta da Freiguesia Estrala, Alkantara

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