From and by Romain Bermond and Jean-Baptiste Maillet

From an original story by Pef

Outside look: Frédéric Maurin

 

"Come many, become unhappy! This message echoes in the streets of a black and white city whose inhabitants flock to the circus to sadden themselves. In the center of the dark capital, a sinister Monsieur Loyal presents more tragic numbers than the others. Dark Circus is the negative genesis of the circus joy that runs through the roads of our childhoods. Born in the head of Pef and entrusted to the hands of STEREOPTIK, he amused by a squeaky cruelty reminiscent of the games of the ancient circus. Yet a juggler, as unlucky as the acrobats, trapeze artists and tamers who preceded him, lets out a red ball of his hat. It's the dissonant note, the loud color that everyone secretly expected. The fatal destiny of this circus is reversed. The magic made its entry on the track, joining the virtuosity which already operated in the center of the plateau where Jean-Baptiste Maillet and Romain Bermond animate instruments, puppets, shadows and cranks. Thanks to the drawing and the music that builds a film before our eyes, the spectator finds again the amazement that the snare bearings announce to every child.

 

        Marion Canelas for the 69th edition of the Avignon Festival, 2015