Over four weeks, eight companies from different parts of the world will show how they interpret their art and what statement they want to convey to the world.
PLAY – A guest performance series by contemporary circus 2024
The diversity is impressive. From breathtaking acrobatics to slapstick to quiet poetry, entertainment at the highest level is offered and answers to the big questions of life are sought. The performances range from a homage to silent films to self-reflections by a juggling duo, a reckoning with the service industry, a dance around the fascination of differences, to a search for inclusion and identity. There will even be a circus-like debate about feminism, followed by a gleeful cry against the patriarchy.
A focus this year is on cross-generational contemporary circus, uniting young companies like Raum 305 from Germany with legends like Gandini Juggling from Great Britain. In the Australian ensemble A Good Catch, the age range of the acrobats on stage ranges from the youngest to the oldest, almost 30 years.
The Chameleon's artistic director, Anke Politz, emphasizes that "Play" is not only an opportunity to bring the audience into contact with the work of new artists, but also to make the house and the art form accessible to the general public to connect with a diverse audience.
The Chameleon's dramaturg, Geordie Brookman, is looking forward to the diversity and the opportunity to illuminate different facets of contemporary circus. He emphasizes that "Play" is an opportunity to explore the relationship between audiences, artists and the art form itself.
The guest performance series is intended to show in which directions contemporary circus is currently developing.
Artists from different countries will present their artistic positions on stage, some without words, others in English with German surtitles. There will be simultaneous translation into German sign language for selected performances, and one performance will be offered with audio description.
The guest performance series "Play 2024" marks the 20th anniversary of the contemporary circus at the Chamäleon and shows the house's commitment to this art form. The Chameleon would like to thank the German Class Lottery Foundation for their support in presenting “Play” in this anniversary year.
These four weeks will blur genres and blur the boundaries between art and entertainment, just as it has always happened in contemporary circus - but at the same time in a completely new way.
Program
10. – 14.01.24
Pss Pss von Compagnia Baccalà (CH / IT)
16. – 18.01.24
The Games We Play -
A Lecture-Performance von Gandini Juggling (UK)
19. – 21.01.24
The Receptionists von Kallo Collective (FIN)
23. – 25.01.24
Gap of 42 von Chris & Iris (DE)
26. – 28.01.24
ODER DOCH? von Raum 305 (DE)
31.01.24 – 01.02.24
Journey to Mimoto von Circus Sonnenstich (DE)
02. – 04.02.24
Casting Off von A Good Catch (AUS)
08. – 11.02.24
Show Pony von still hungry und
Bryony Kimmings (DE/UK) -Uraufführung
