Ode to Progress
It is the Carnival of a foreign country, distant yet close.
The actors in this Carnival are the emissaries of a hidden
people, stately, funny, grotesque, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes
sorrowful. We host them in our streets and squares, in the theatres
and the institutions that make us civilised.
This Carnival doesn't pretend to believe in civilization. It
makes us laugh. But it is a type of laughter that confines with
tears and evokes tears when least expected. The Carnival shows
human and animal masks, marionettes and skulls, skeletons and rag
dolls. It starts with a procession and alternates scenes with music
and dances, figures like the actors of past times entering a
village. They exhibit a tame bear, Harlequin, the Queen of Saba, a
man-woman and Our Lady of Death who steals children just as
children catch butterflies and happily torment them. There is also
an old monk, solitary, haughty, sad as an inquisitor and vulgar as
a corrupt saint.
"Human beings are not like this!" thinks the Hunter, who runs
into this Carnival during one of his safaris.
To compose this Ode, Odin Teatret has deformed some precious
scenes from its past repertoire. In other words: the actors have
loved and respected it until blasphemy. Carnival.
Actors: Luis Alonso, Kai
Bredholt, Roberta Carreri, Jan
Ferslev, Elena Floris, Donald Kitt, Carolina
Pizarro, Iben Nagel Rasmussen, Julia Varley
Scenic space and costumes: Odin Teatret
Dramaturgy and directing: Eugenio Barba
First performance: Holstebro, May 1997
Above text in other languages
Dansk: ODE
TIL FREMSKRIDTET
Italiano: ODE
AL PROGRESSO
Reviews
Dansk: Holstebro Dagblad. 03.02.1990 af Frede
Stengaard
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English:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
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Countries and Places
2017
2016: Denmark
(Holstebro); Norway (Oslo)
2015: Denmark (Holstebro;
Idom); Norway (Oslo)
2014: China
(Wuzhen); Denmark
(Holstebro); Italy
(Gallipoli); Poland (Wroclaw)
2013: Denmark (Holstebro);
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
2012: Brazil (Porto
Alegre); Denmark (Holstebro)
2010: Romania
2009: Denmark, Tunisia
2008: Turkey
2007: Montenegro
2005: Italy
2004: Italy
2003: Denmark, Germany
International Festivals
Wuzhen International Theatre
Festival, China (2014)
Kakiseni Arts Festival, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(2013)
7º. Festival
Palco Giratório Sesc Porto Alegre, Brazil (2012)
SITF - Sibiu International Theatre Festival
17th edition, Romania (2010)
Kulturfestival Mørket, Mid and West Jutland,
Denmark (2009)
45th International Festival of Hammamet,
Tunisia (2009)
10th International Sabanci Adana Theater
Festival, Turkey (2008)
FIAT - Festival of International Alternative
Theatre in Podgorica, Montenegro (2007)
360° International Theatre
Meeting in Bielefeld, Germany (2003)
Kulturfestival Vinden in Bøvlingbjerg, Ejsing,
Holstebro, Nr. Felding, Sevel, Ørnhøj, Denmark (2003)