INTRODUCTION WITH MARIONETTE
JOHNNY DANCE, TAP DANCER
ALSO THE GRANDFATHER MANUEL WANTS TO DANCE
FELIX, THE FIREMAN CLOWN
THE DREAM OF PIERROT
PEPITA RETUERTO "LA BAILAORA"
THE GRANDPA SKATER

SOLOIST

With 45 years of career in the theatre, Cañellas, Dean of the Catalan string-puppeteers, considered by international critics as one of the most able in Europe, performs as soloist a compendium of his production for string-puppet theatre and like a story of a long journey.

With the perspective that gives us the time and experience, we wanted to recover of some of our previous shows, those scenes and ideas that worked better with our audience. Not for make a simple repetition, but with the will to play, to seek new possibilities, to deepen and keep experimenting, because, when placed in another context, they open new territories to explore. In conclusion, a trip by our previous works to recover sensations, ideas, situations and characters and compose a new puzzle with all those moments that we liked so much to share and so we thanked the audience everywhere.

Award to the Best Animation at the "11th. World Festival of Puppet Art 2007" of Prague, Czech Republic.

Synopsis

Seven funny, poetic, surprising stories, represented with six different marionettes, one at a time, with a common spirit: the verisimilitude of real life of the puppets. The actor and puppet animator acts, plays with them on stage. Sometimes he intervenes directly, by choice or because he is forced by the situation, in others he "disappears", in focusing all the attention on the puppet.

INTRODUCTION WITH MARIONETTE Symbolizes the discovery of the puppet-string and the beginning of the trip. From a suitcase, the actor pulls out a chair, after a wooden device that observes without knowing what it is for. In the meantime, from inside the suitcase appears a puppet that moves "autonomously". In his performance, all actions are aimed at displaying a basic principle of the marionette theater: the unstable equilibrium.

JOHNNY DANCE, TAP DANCER A classic exercise in dance where the rhythm is the absolute protagonist.

THE GRANDFATHER MANUEL WANTS TO DANCE ALSO Reaffirming the illusion of true autonomy of the puppets, the grandfather interrupts the normal development of the show, forcing the actor to allow his entry into the scene. An impressive dialogue based on the interaction of both.

FELIX, THE FIREMAN CLOWN This is the most circus-like moment, in which the actor becomes the ringmaster and unintended comedy partner of the puppet.

THE DREAM OF PIERROT A pantomime inspired by classical ballet where Pierrot tries to catch the stars by all physical means available to him, until he falls asleep exhausted and dreaming achieves its purpose.

PEPITA RETUERTO "LA BAILAORA" A flamenco professional dancer, into an unrestrained "zapateado" with castanets.

THE GRANDPA SKATER Apotheosis of the relationship between string-puppet and actor. The verisimilitude of the proposed theme in the show arrives here at their maximum quota. The friendly grandfather should learn to skate for actor's desire, becoming a real reflects of a child.

CREDITS

Author, direction, actor and animation marionettes: Carles Cañellas
Stage manager and actress: Susanna Rodríguez
Design and construction marionettes and props: Carles Cañellas, Rocamora Teatre and Col·lectiu d'Animació
Dressmaking marionettes: Rocamora Teatre

VIDEO PROMO

SOLOIST 9min Extracts of the show

FULL VIDEO

SOLOIST Full video

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Festive show of medium format for one actor and six string-puppets. For all audiences, with versions for children or families and for young and adults. Indoor or outdoor. Suitable for air transport (2 pax, 3 suitcases). Available in English.

DURATION: performance: 1 hour / stage set up (theatre-lighting): 2 hours / (open air-no lighting): 1 hour / dismantling: 1 hour
AUDIENCE: from 2 years upward / maximum recommended capacity 300 people outdoor and until 600 indoor
SCENIC SPACE: can be performed indoor or outdoor and with or without interval
optimal measures: width: 6m / depth: 6m
indoor: height: 3m / proscenium: without footlights nor big mouldings on the stage floor front
outdoor: wind-sheltered area / a platform is not required when the audience is arranged on tiers (banks) or in an amphitheater, but in case of parterre with more than 150 spectators, we need a podium or elevated stage approximately 80cm.
SOUND: own sound equipment of 500w or connection to the P.A. of the space on stage
LIGHTING: (indoors or at night) is needed 6kw of frontal light and 1 backlight semi zenithal near to back-curtain
CURRENT: power outlet on the stage / potency 2,5Kw/h + lighting

ALSO THE GRANDFATHER MANUEL WANTS TO DANCE

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