How does one give life to a machine or object? If you want to know, you’ll have to ask some experts on the topic, the members of the theatre group Antigua i Barbuda, led by Jordà Ferré. They’ve taken us for a ride on a Ferris wheel made out of old toilets, served us glasses of wine mechanically, and made us into voyeurs with their fabulous Zootropo. All of these machines had life of their own or at least seemed to, but this feeling is even more real when it comes to creations like its huge mechanical horse (Iron horse) or its spectacular ballerina (La danseuse). Exploring this line in more depth, the company now brings The Great Gorilla to the Plaça de Margarida square. It’s an iconic figure that wishes to explore the streets of the cities and make the world its home. It may be no more than a puppet, but with its huge dimensions and its movements, it seems to transcend this condition. You’ll have in front of you a monstrous being that might scare you, but you’ll see that it’s also able to awaken the most tender feelings. Over the course of these days, we’ll see how the group learns to move it and we’ll listen to the voice emanating from inside the iron, for a spectacle on freedom and domestication, a reflection that goes beyond the object and speaks to us about ourselves as we gawk at this huge gorilla.
The Great Gorilla will surely be one of the most spectacular productions by Antigua i Barbuda, a theatre company founded in 2002 that combines the visual arts and theatrical practice, using the most varied disciplines in its creations, which always have a mechanical element or create illusory worlds that its shows revolve around. You’ve seen them many times collaborating with all kinds of artists (from Comediants and Escarlata Circus to Royal de Luxe, Sergi López and Philippe Genty, just to name a few) bringing to neighbourhood festivals and citizen events (from the Mercè Festival to the Barcelona Three Kings Parade) beautiful and ingenious mechanical devices that were constructed using objects destined to be forgotten.
Wednesday-Friday, at 6.00 p.m.: open researhal
Saturday, at 7.30 p.m.: performance
Show suitable for all ages.
A Grec 2022 Festival de Barcelona and Antigua i Barbuda co-production.
Created and directed by: Jordà Ferré Assistant director: Josep Carreras Dramaturgy: Guillem Gefaell Gorilla Design: Josep Carreras, Jordà Ferré Puppet makers: (structure): Alba Sarlé, Mateo Delnevo, Josep Carreras, Jordà Ferré, Jan Clota Puppet makers: (wood): Gloria Arrufat, Bruno Belil, Maria Megias, Josep Carreras, Jordà Ferré Puppet makers: (skin): José Duarte Lighting design: Fernando Calzadilla Special effects design: Antigua i Barbuda Technic head: Josep Carreras Hangling / performing: Laura Tamayo, Alba Sarlé, Esperança Crespi,Mònica Fernandez, Pei Hwee, Natalia Barraza, Guillem Gefaell, Xavier Torra, Marti Salvat, Josep Carreras, Jan Clota, Jordà Ferré Conducted by: Jordi Dorado Costumes design and dressmaking: Isabel Herrera Music: Pia Nielsen Sound design: Antigua i Barbuda Production: Jorda Ferré Engineering advisor: Jordi Parès Architectural advisor: Genìs Avila Photography: Juliotavolo Aknowledgements: Lola Ferré,Genis Àvila, Comas & Parners,Daniel Comas, Tot Carretillas, Bibiana Bigorra, Jorge Pico, Ramon Lopez, Alfred Fort, Claudia Saez, Tena Busquets, Marc Domage, Natalia Martínez, Juliotavolo, Manuel Delgado
