The term"cantus gestualis" was coined in the Middle Ages in reference to those literary texts, created to be sung or recited aloud, which narrated events and deeds featuring the kings and heroes of the day, along with the martyrdom of saints. The audience who listened to the stories of pain and suffering of those notable people were then able to relativise their own pain and misery and bear them better. Based on this concept, the Ça Marche company offer a story that revolves around the relationship between theatre and death, and how these two phenomena are integrated into our daily lives. They achieve this with two non-professional women performers over the age of seventy-five, who, in line with recent Ça Marche creations, are the guiding lights of this show. Taking on the same role as the narrators from the distant past, these performers ask themselves what “cantus” and “gestualis” mean in our daily lives, while seeking to find the hidden, isolated parts of our existence that we keep to ourselves as individuals.
This is the latest project of a company that has visited the Barcelona Grec Festival once before, albeit virtually (From Story to Tale; Grec 2020), and which has already worked with non-professional elderly people and children, among others. Led by Nico Jongen and Laura Viñals and with its other members, Carmen Triñanes, Aurora Bauzà, Mariona Signes and Marc Salicrú, Ça Marche has created what is known as the Trilogia del fill [The Child's Trilogy], consisting of the productions Ça va, Ta gueule and Silence, and more recently Los figurantes. They are all projects that aim to reflect on childhood and how it is interpreted.
Their latest production comes to the Grec as the winner of the Adrià Gual Prize, awarded by the Institute of Theatre, in order to offer support and promote the production and exhibition of high-quality, professional stage productions marked by creativity. In addition to a grant for the production, the winning show is included in the Barcelona Grec Festival’s programme for the following year.
A Grec 2022 Festival of Barcelona, Ça Marche and Institut del Teatre co-production.
The show was awarded the 2021 Adrià Gual prize by Barcelona Provincial Council's Institut del Teatre.
With the support of the Teatre Lliure's Carlota Soldevila Subsidies, the Graner Centre for Creation and Performing Arts, L'Abri (Genève), Teatre d'Alella and the Catalan Ministry of Culture.
Director, playwright: Nico Jongen Performed by: Pepita Magriñá, Ana Maria Guix Stage and costume design: Carmen Triñanes Lighting design: Carmen Triñanes, Nico Jongen Lighting design advice: Marc Salicrú Light technician: Marieta Rojo Movement: Antes Collado Musica and sound design: Aurora Bauzà Costume maker: Mariona Signes Staging support: José Faro Management: Cristina Soler Production: Laura Viñals Aknowledgements: Víctor Molina, Roberto Fratini, Marc Sitjà, Pere Jou Photography: Pirueta Photo
