Anabasis
It unravels in streets and squares. A group of strangers making
their way amongst strangers. From time to time the actors chat
amicably with one of the spectators, but then this newly struck up
relationship is suddenly interrupted by a call from their
companions. Sometimes they make a halt, the spectators gather round
them in a circle and the actors perform a grotesque number or an
acrobatic dance. As soon as they have finished, they ignore the
applause and continue their march in a tight group. With drums
rolling, trumpets blasting and banners waving, they urge the crowd
on or split it in two with their wedge-shaped formation. At times
the giant figures on stilts collapse to the ground, while other
figures suddenly appear on balconies or rooves, high on church
spires, let themselves down into the square or street on a rope,
start marching in the opposite direction, disperse, disorientate
the people following them. A compact group which remains united
until it reaches its goal. The reaching of the goal implies
dissolution (therefore the title, which comes from the classical
Greek Xenophon and his autobiographical and military odyssey, was
not just a pretext). In the end, all the actors huddle together and
are covered by a black sheet transforming them into a dark and
shapeless monument, guarded by tall and lanky figures of death.
An itinerant performance, based on an elementary dramaturgy
which exploits the basic opposition between the actors with their
technical skills and the spectators that they encounter on their
way.
Created in Holstebro on the basis of experiences from the
parades of the previous years, from the summer of 1974 onwards.
Actors
Torben Bjelke, Roberta Carreri, Toni Cots, Tom Fjordefalk,
Francis Pardeilhan, Tage Larsen, Else Marie Laukvik, Iben Nagel
Rasmussen, Silvia Ricciardelli, Ulrik Skeel, Julia Varley, Torgeir
Wethal
(Some of the actors only participated in one of the various
versions.)
Director: Eugenio Barba
Number of spectators per performance: No
limit
180 performances from April 1977 to September
1984
On Tour
Colombia, Denmark, France, French Antilles, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden,
Wales