Festival Perspectives
The Perspectives Festival was created in 1978 and is since its inception associated to the department of culture of the City of Saarbrücken. It takes place every spring, representing an important cultural event for the SaarLorLux Region.
The Festival has an ambitious multifaceted programme, covering various disciplines from contemporary theater performance, to circus arts and contemporary dance. The main goal of the festival is to propose new talents to the German and French public, allowing young companies, writers, artists and directors to present their work.
Contemporary theater, contemporary dance, circus arts, street theater and concerts were again part of this year’s programme, providing a dynamic and refreshing showcase for French and German contemporary art.
Roméo & Juliette trhough Preljocaj’s eyes
Created in 1996 by French born choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, the adaptation of Roméo&Juliette continues to astonish and attract crowds.
A dark, sublime and masterful contemporary ballet with 24 dancers. Set-up in a cold, totalitarian and fictitious Verona ruled by a militia, focused into maintaining the social order, overruling a miserable and exploited population.
Two worlds collide in this ballet. On one hand the orderly and regimented dance by the militia enhanced by their dark and formal leather uniforms. On the other hand, the joy- and playful dance from the homeless who love freely. Juliet, in her white angelical costume, represents the purity and innocence of a young women thirsty of love and freedom tore apart by her belonging to the rich cast while falling in love with poor Romeo. Juliet wishes to have Romeo’s freedom while Romeo wishes to have more power. An impossible love that will lead to a tragedy. Two worlds and a battle of freedom and sensuality against the hatred and totalitarianism.
Ten years after the first representation of Roméo&Juliette, this contemporary ballet doesn’t disappoint. From a beautifully and sensually put together scene of Romeo and Juliet dancing in their bedroom with an amazing light play with dancers discretely surrounding them, to a heartbreaking scene of Romeo dancing with what he thought is Juliet’s dead body before the fatal final scene. The public goes through different emotions along the ballet accompanied by an incredible music by Serge Prokofiev, preparing us for the fatal end.
Si j’apprends à pêcher, je mangerai toute ma vie by Pamina de Coulon
Throw together a white stage with a plastic tent, two benches, a table, three fishes, a cake and the compulsive talker personage of Pamina de Coulon and you’ll have all the ingredients for her performance “Si j’apprends à pêcher, je mangerai toute ma vie” (translation: if I learn to fish, I will eat my entire life).
A captivating 50 minutes’ monologue going from a scientific explorer, to Sarah Palin and the difference between the USA and Europe, and from Lynne Cox to her Swiss friend Marie-Luce and the lake Baikal. Pamina de Coulon quotes Simone de Beauvoir in between and manages to make it seem as the topics would just be stumbling one after another, interconnecting themes that are universes apart when tackled individually. A very smart, funny, well written and critic text that hypnotizes you during the entire monologue even when speaking with her mouth full of cake. A moment of existential empiricism that culminates with a list of survival tips followed by a song.
A performance to hate or love. Well… as you might have noticed, I became a huge fan and would love to have her over for dinner. Definitely worthwhile to keep an eye on Pamina de Coulon and her work.
No plans for next week-end? Have a look at the Festival’s programme.