Between us. Holding emotions together.



04.2023
Czech Republic, Praha, Savarin.



About


This joint group experience explores gentle ways of holding emotions together, even transmitting them from one person to another. A space of intimacy and openness is created through nonverbal communication.
The audience is invited, but never forced to join different actions to playfully explore different ways of communicating and relating, while the the borders of who is performing and who is an audience blur into each other.




Credits

 
Concept/Director/Performance: Levin Eichert

Performers and Co-researchers: Jeries Abujaber, Sofiia Fedorovska, Martin Mlčouch, Sai Morikawa, Ji Chin Jovita Siu, Sumin Sung

Stage and graphic design: Paul Tuttas

Dramaturgy and Mentoring: Marta Ljubková, Petra Hauerová
Picture by  Shi Yun Chien



A big piece of fabric is walking towards you, filled by a performer. You can barely see the proportions of the person inside. Hands are stitched on the upper corners of the fabric.



Pieces of coloured paper. Dropping to the floor. Some from a performers hand. Some are handed to you.

Picture by Shi Yun Chien

Picture by Shi Yun Chien



In a second, I will ask you to close your eyes. While you have your eyes closed, we will guide you through the room. You can open your eyes at any time you want to.



Hi, let me tell you: There is a house, it’s a classic house. Behind it, there is a cliff and a big, big ocean below. The whole house is painted in yellow colour. There is yellow furniture, yellow chairs, a yellow desk, a yellow table cover on the yellow desk. I catch a fish and put it on the table and put a yellow lemon on the fish.




Picture by Shi Yun Chien

Picture by Shi Yun Chien



Now, I would like to start.
    Yes.
No, you have to say no. Here, you always have to say no. Everywhere else in this room, you can say yes, or no, but here you always have to say no. Do you understand?
   No.
Yes! Great! If you don’t mind, could you tell me your name?
   No!
That’s great, that’s great, you are doing really well!




Nuts on the floor. Acorns, chestnuts. Rolling, being thrown. Circling, stopping.


Picture by Shi Yun Chien

Picture by Shi Yun Chien



A performer places an acorn in your hand. Her eyes ask for permission. She puts her hand in your hand and gently rolls the acorn between your hands, sometimes you feel the round side of the acorn, sometimes you feel the spiky end pinch your skin.



Some chatting. One person moves very slow. Patterns on coloured paper, everywhere.

Picture by Shi Yun Chien

Picture by Shi Yun Chien



Coloured pencils on the floor. A tin can phone, transmitting whispers and humming. An elastic string, sending waves through space.



You can open your eyes any time you want to, or you can just keep them closed.

Picture by Shi Yun Chien

Picture by Shi Yun Chien



Is there a song you connect to emotionally in whatever way? It can be positive or negative emotions, subtle or strong ones. Can you try to find the song on this phone?



How do you feel?

Picture by Shi Yun Chien