Have you ever noticed the beauty of a cumulonimbus cloud about to burst into tears? Can you recall the smell of post-rain humus ? When was the last time you caressed a tree, even a dead one ?
In a dystopian far-future, meet Trebor (a tree in a pot) and Robert (an acrodancer). Intertwined, leaning on one another, these two entities exist in sync, supporting each other throughout the one hour acrobatic dialogue that is La Vieille Souche. Intimate, minimalistic, absurd, optimistic and highly physical, the piece places Trebor and Robert on an equal footing.
La Vieille Souche is an ode dedicated to life, in all its absurdity, and to the walnut tree at the edge of the garden of my childhood home; a tree who carried my first “cabanes”, the early sorrows of my heart, and who still wears – proudly – the scars of the swing’s ropes.
Specs
One performer and one tree one stage Location: Indoor and outdoor Duration: 50-60 minutes Capacity: 25 – 250 Age: 8+ Audience circular or semi circular
Tree : Trebor Quercus Robur Artist, performer, maker : Samuel Rhyner Music : Samuel Rhyner, with the help of Pierrick Bacher Costume and special effects : Menno Boerdam Choreographic support : Piet Van Dycke Dramaturgical support : Franka Tremblay Outside eye : Adele Didelez, Lina Isaksson, Samantha Cunningham Scenographic advice : Sammy Van Den Heuvel Scenographic construction : Martin Baarda and Luc Cauwenberghs Light design : Bart Verzellenberg Trailer and pictures : Astrid & Roel