Stage echoes | Cirque Barcode: memory in motion

After having worked their way for more than 10 years with the big circus companies of the world, the founders of the Barcode troupe decided to take the leap and offer TOHU their very first creation, very nicely titled Of sweat and ink.

Stephanie Morin
Press

Luc Boulanger
Press

The four artists – Alexandra Royer, Eric Bates, Tristan Nielsen and Ève Bigel – have chosen the theme of memory as a common thread for this first show.

Alexandra Royer explains: “In 2016, I read a book by Rafaële Germain entitled An infinite present. She put the words on a discomfort I felt with regard to memory and the digital trace that we leave. Today, we record everything on our phones, we are in instantaneity, but that prevents us from going in depth. Everything remains on the surface. His text made me want to continue my research on the subject. ”

What she found fascinated her, to the point that she convinced her partners to articulate their show around memory and oblivion. Complex subject for a circus performance? “The project is ambitious, it’s true. There is a real thought behind the show. We are a bit of intellectuals and we assume it! », Launches this hoop specialist and acrobat at the Russian bar.

Barcode artists are not only intellectuals, they also attach great importance to social values; the environment is an important hobbyhorse for them. “We want to change the way things are done, to do tours that have a smaller ecological footprint, to offer the lowest-tech shows possible, which are in harmony with our values. ”

A high level of danger

To carry their message under the big top, the acrobats chose traditional disciplines, but not necessarily common in the current contemporary circus: juggling with cigar boxes, Russian bar, mini-seesaw … “We wanted to revisit these disciplines, break the rigidity of the Russian bar, for example, to translate memory into movements. We wanted to go towards less frequented paths. ”

The troupe entrusted the creation of the original music for the show to none other than Betty Bonifassi. “We worked with her during a show presented for the 375^e Montreal anniversary. We fell in love with each other. Everyone who has heard his music and his unique voice knows his musical abilities. Her vocal presence is extraordinary, she really carries us. It is a dream and a privilege to be able to benefit from his talent. Working with Jean-Pierre Cloutier on the directing has also been very beneficial. In this show, we don’t have the choice to be present and authentic on stage, otherwise, we will hurt ourselves very badly… ”

After the performances scheduled at TOHU from November 4 to 6, the company goes on tour in Europe – Austria, the Czech Republic, France – before returning to Canada in the summer of 2022.

Visit the TOHU website

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