Le présent qui déborde
"It may be a play, but it starts out like a film. The heart of the work is in the cinema," says Christiane Jatahy about the play. "It is through cinema that we arrive on the stage.”
This story is 3000 years old, but it is replayed every day in cinema, but also in Homer's Odyssey. All over the world, people cross borders in search of asylum or a home.
The film travels through Jenin, Palestine, refugee camps in Lebanon and Greece, downtown Johannesburg, the Amazon rainforest and ends up in Rio de Janeiro. The context of the filming may be documentary, but the whole thing is primarily fiction. The actors in these communities take Homer's verses to speak about their reality. The actors are manifestations of Odysseus, Penelope and Telemachus, they draw a straight line from ancient Greek characters to each of us, present, in the theatre.
For some people in exile or in countries at war, only the present exists, the past is already too far away or almost destroyed, and the future is unthinkable. Only the time of waiting remains. A present that overflows.
• Born in Rio de Janeiro, Christiane Jatahy has degrees in theatre and journalism, and a Masters degree in art and philosophy. In January 2022, Christiane Jatahy was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for her entire theatrical work. Created in 2020, Le présent qui déborde, was filmed in Palestine, Lebanon, South Africa, Greece and the Amazon. The film is in dialogue with theatre and mixes fiction with real stories of refugee artists.
with Abbas Abdulelah Al’Shukra, Abdul Lanjesi, Abed Aidy, Adnan Ibrahim Nghnghia, Ahmed Tobasi, Banafshe Hourmazdi, Bepkapoy, Blessing Opoko, Corina Sabbas, Emilie Franco, Faisal Abu Alhayjaa, Fepa Teixeira, Frank Sithole, Iketi Kayapó, Irengri Kayapó, Isabel Novella, Ivan Tirtiaux, Jehad Obeid, Joseph Gaylard, Jovial Mbenga, Kroti, Laerte Késsimos, Leon David Salazar, Linda Michael Mkhwanasi, Manuela Afonso, Maria Laura Nogueira, Marie-Aurore d’Awans, Maroine Amimi, Mbali Ncube, Melina Martin, Mustafa Sheta, Nambulelo Meolongwara, Noji Gaylard, Ojo Kayapó, Omar Al Jbaai, Phana, Pitchou Lambo, Pravinah Nehwati, Pykatire, Ramyar Hussaini, Ranin Odeh, Renata Hardy, Vitor Araújo, Yara Ktaish | direction, production & dramaturgy Christiane Jatahy | artistic collaboration, scenography & light Thomas Walgrave Musique Domenico Lancelotti, Vitor Araújo | sound design Alex Fostier | collaboration & company coordination Henrique Mariano | film & editing Christiane Jatahy, Paulo Camacho Cadreur Paulo Camacho | second camera Thomas Walgrave | mixing Breno Furtado, Pedro Vituri | general & video direction Stefano Serra | stage direction Dimitri Wauters | light direction Isabel Scheck, alterning with Juan Borrego Régisseur | sound David Defour alterning with Jeison Pardo Rojas | creation studio Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles | production Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, SESC Coproduction Ruhrtriennale, Comédie de Genève, Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, Teatro Municipal São Luiz, Festival d’Avignon, Le Maillon-Théâtre de Strasbourg Scène européenne, Riksteatern, Temporada Alta – Festival de Tardor de Catalunya | construction setting & costums Ateliers du Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles | La Compagnie Vértice est soutenue par la Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d’Île-de-France, Ministère de la Culture France | with the support of The Freedom Theatre, Outreach Foundation, Ambassade du Brésil en France, Ambassade de France au Brésil, Bureau de représentation du Brésil à Ramallah, Ambassade du Brésil au Liban, Ambassade du Brésil en Grèce, Ambassade de Belgique au Liban | Christiane Jatahy is associated artist at l’Odéon – Théâtre de l’Europe, au Centquatre-Paris, au Schauspielhaus Zürich, au Arts Emerson Boston et au Piccolo Teatro de Milano teatro d’Europa
This performance includes depictions of racism, physical violence, abuse, religious discrimination, death, suicide, and poverty.