Gelsomina is funny, clever and hates rules. And if she follows any, then only her own. Her friend believes he knows how theatre works, what it needs and what it doesn’t. But these notions turn Gelsomina’s world upside down and inside out. Together, the two discover that the stage is much more than just a black hole with curtains: but an ingenious magic box with endless possibilities for daring acrobatics, versatile dancers and clownish figures. In this imaginative family play, Swiss multi-artist Martin Zimmermann brings together two circus artists and ballet dancers and transports us into an imaginary, felliniesque fantasy world. A world of authority and dependence but also freedom, friendship love and inventiveness.
Throughout his career Martin has strived to create a form of wordless theatre whose blend of contemporary circus, dance and spectacular stage installations has captivated audiences the world over gaining many awards along the way.
Credits
Concept, staging, choreography: Martin Zimmermann
Artistic and choreographic collaboration: Romain Guion
Dramaturgy: Sabine Geistlich
Stage design: Simeon Meier, Martin Zimmermann
Music: Ara Malikian, Armand Amar, Daniel Hope, Hilary Hahn & Hauschka, John Lurie, M.I.A., Max Richter
Costumes: Susanne Boner
Light: Sarah Büchel
Rehearsal assistance: Debora Maiques Marin
Stage design assistance: Jana Furrer
Costumes assistance: Anna Michaelis
Light direction: Ueli Kappeler
Sound direction: Valeria Valletta
Performers for the re-creation at Theater Am Stram Gram 2024:
Circus artists: Eline Guélat, Aimé Morales
Dancers: Léna Bagutti, Jesse Callaert, Neil Höhener, Valeria Marangelli, Sandra Salietti
Performers for the premiere at Theater Basel 2022:
Circus artists: Eline Guélat, Aimé Morales
Ballett Theater Basel | Dancers: Giacomo Altovino, Lydia Caruso, Mikaela Kelly, David Lagerqvist, Stefanie Pechtl
Production and distribution: Alain Vuignier
Production international: Claire Béjanin
Production: MZ Atelier
Coproduction: Theater Basel • Tanzhaus Zürich. With the support of Novartis, Gönnerkreis Theater Basel, Premiere: 1 December 2022, Theater Basel – Schauspielhaus
In coproduction with Théâtre Am Stram Gram, Geneva, for the recreation on 12 January 2024. With the support of the City of Geneva.
Martin Zimmermann is supported by a cooperative funding agreement with the Culture Department City of Zurich, Department of Culture Canton Zurich and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council.
Martin Zimmermann is Associated Artist at maisondelaculture de Bourges / Scène Nationale and at Tanzhaus Zürich.
Tour
2025
- Orléans F 03.14 – 03.15 Scène nationale Orléans
- Maubeuge F 03.10 – 03.11 Manège Maubeuge
2024
- St. Gallen CH 03.04 – 03.05 Jungspund Theater Festival
- Delémont CH 01.30 Théâtre du Jura
- Genève CH 01.12 – 01.28 Théâtre Am Stram Gram
2023
- Zürich CH 06.12 – 06.14 Tanzhaus Zürich
- Schaffhausen CH 05.04 Stadttheater Schaffhausen
- Zug CH 01.14 Theater Casino Zug
- Basel CH 01.08 – 01.11 Theater Basel – Schauspiel
2022
- Basel CH 12.04 – 12.20 Theater Basel – Schauspiel
- Basel CH 12.01 PREMIERE • Theater Basel – Schauspiel
