Raquel Grela at Performing Arts Festival Berlin

This time the premier happens to be in the magical and theatrical city of Berlin.

After a year of rehearsal blocks in the German city, Raquel will be performig at PAFB as part of the ensamble created by the collaboration between Compagnie Des Wanderers & A Hart's Dog Theatre.

ARTES MORIENDI - Ways of dying

The stories: the quest of making death visible

It’s the birthday party of Joyce. She’s about to die. And she is seven. Then, the clock strikes 4 at the Schönefeld Airport. The weather is stormy. It’s time to bring in the cake. 7! What a wonderful time! What a wonderful age. The weather is not getting any better. In a surburban house, an old woman falls from her couch, eyes open. The screen of a phone lights up and asks “Where are you?”. The old woman bites her tongue. The plane takes off. Joyce closes her eyes and blows out the candles.

The last dance

We think there’s never a better time to think about death, since it’s coming for all of us. In 15th century Europe, a time that kept the memory of death being everywhere, be it feudal wars, mercenaries, famines or the Plague, appeared Artes Moriendi, Arts of dying. These short essays developped when time was often too short for a cleric to come and give the last Sacrament. They were filled with recommendations on how to die best and come off clear as the Last Judgement loomed on them.

“You have here noticeable doctrine to well end one mortal life / Dance of death it is called / That every one learns to dance”.

Yet we are not equal in front of death. Some die at home, some away from home, some can ward off death, some can’t. Rich and poor, here and over there, we don’t die of the same death. We look at the rituals we still have to talk about death and make them visible, in their sharp, injust or tragi-comic forms.

Stage Direction Federico Schwindt (Compagnie Des Wanderers)

Dramaturgy and text Marie Yan (A Dog’s Heart Theatre)

With Raquel Grela (A Dog’s Heart Theatre) Emiliano Passaro, Gabriela Turano, Ivanna Sol Barbagallo, Tanja Watoro, and Ailin Formia (Compagnie Des Wanderers)

Costume design Jojo Shone

Production assistant Karen Ka Wan Cheung

Costume assistance Claire-Marie McQuillan

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