Invitation to persons with a physical disability for the workshop Sottobosco by Chiara Bersani

During Theaterfestival Boulevard ’s-Hertogenbosch (3 – 13 August)

Workshops

Friday 4 and Saturday 5 August from 10.00h – 13.00h and Sunday 6 August from 17.00h – 18.30h.

Performance

Sunday 6 and Monday 7 August at 20.30h.
(if you want you can participate in the performance!)

Boulevard is inviting people with motor disabilities to a workshop by artist Chiara Bersani 

"I was a disabled child, often immobilised. I was placed at a point in space, left there for a long time and then I learnt that point by heart. I didn't orient myself in the paths but I knew perfectly well the places of rest, quiet, refreshment." Chiara Bersani

During the first days of Theaterfestival Boulevard – 4, 5 and 6 August 2023 – the Italian artist and choreographer Chiara Bersani will lead a workshop aimed at people with a physical disability aged 14 and older. She will be accompanied by musician and sound researcher Lemmo and dancer and choreographer Elena Sgarbossa. The Dutch theater maker, actress Nikki Manuputty, having a physical disability herself, will contribute on behalf of Boulevard.

Chiara, Lemmo and Elena will share research, reflections and practices developed in the course of their new work, Sottobosco. The participants are invited to explore with them the relationship between movement, sound and space, starting from the possibilities and will of each body.

The aim of the workshop is to jointly find new expressive possibilities for non-conforming bodies, i.e. bodies that do not meet the norm. And to investigate how those bodies relate to the environment and to each other.

The performance Sottobosco (meaning 'undergrowth'), creates an environment on stage in which improvised groups of people with disabilities can meet and form a community.

As an integral part of the performance, the workshop responds to the wish of Chiara Bersani and her team to meet people with physical disabilities in order to answer together the questions: what is the relationship of a body with a disability to the public space, and specifically to nature? What space can we imagine and thus create thanks to the collective presence of our bodies? What new and accessible underwood can be built by our gestures? 

Chiara, her team and Theaterfestival Boulevard would like to invite you to this special workshop. We encourage persons with a physical disability (can also be a visual or hearing impairment) to participate.

The workshop is not suitable for people with a cognitive or intellectual disability, because it focuses exclusively on the specific aspect of movement. In addition, participants must be able to follow and understand the story and movement directions given during the workshop.

No previous experience in dance or theatre is needed, but foremost a willingness to participate in a collective experience. 

More information

The workshop lasts 3 days of 3 hours.
Participants will be involved in the performance, which will take place on 6 and 7 August.
The workshop has a maximum number of 10 participants.

Are you interested in participating, or do you know someone who would like to?
For registration and more information, write to: coralie@festivalboulevard.nl.

The workshops and performance will take place in Studio Tramkade in Verkadefabriek, 's-Hertogenbosch.
The space is accessible for people with walking difficulties and/or in a wheelchair.

There is always the option to communicate with Chiara and Nikki in advance via video call.