we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming #8
we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming (2016) is a long-term research project that takes as a starting point the radio shows of the liberation movements based in Algeria in the 60s and 70s. During that time, the Algerian capital hosted national liberation movements, political exiles, rebels and disillusioned Westerners and militants from all the continents, who were forging other possible futures.
The first chapter of the project; a common consent to listen. a collective dissent of interpretation is a multimedia cumulative, ongoing and durational performance that borrows from the radio- and theatre documentary genres. A broadcasting company at times, a foreign broadcast monitoring centre at others, this first chapter explores new ways of activating the unique and little-known archive of the 'Mecca of Revolution'.
For Moussem Cities: Algiers, Yasmina Reggad creates two new versions. #8 is the eighth iteration of the ever-evolving we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming performance inspired by the radio documentary genre. #9 is the performative installation that re-enacts different modalities of political engagements and international solidarity through radio broadcasting from exile. The audience is invited to activate the installation and become the radio commentators of a daily live broadcast by reading a projected script inspired by militant movies from the 70s.
• Yasmina Reggad is an independent curator, writer, researcher, performer and choreographer who works between Brussels and Algiers.
concept, script & research Yasmina Reggad | performers Yasmina Reggad, solidarity choir (members TBC) | sound dramaturgy Myriam Pruvot | production Hiros | co-production Moussem | with the support of Centre national des arts plastiques (Cnap), Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Ucross Foundation, Sundance Institute Theatre Program, the Bouzeurs Family
