“Les Grandes Personnes”, a creative and dynamic collective of artists from France, is set to take South African audience by surprise !
On their arrival to South Africa, “Les Grandes Personnes” will lead a 15-day artistic residency in Orange Farm, Soweto. Click to see pictures
In collaboration with a team composed of local artists and professionals, “Les Grandes Personnes” will create from start to finish a family of four giant puppets, measuring up to 4m high ! During the residency, the collective will focus on staging, acting and handling the puppets ; this platform will be the opportunity for skills transfer, cultural exchange, and ideas sharing.
From 30 August to 14 September, “Les Grandes Personnes” will embark on a South African tour stopping in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Maseru (Lesotho).
They will present their wonderful creation “À la Corde”, which will draw you in the imaginative world of a little boy called “Odilon” : spectators will take part in the different stages of Odilon’s life, using their hands and voices, repeating sentences and passing sculptures around. Accessible to the youngest and the oldest, this intimate show encourages audiences to take part in a wonderful experience of exchange and creativity.
The vibrant and colourful giants created during the residency will stroll down the streets of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria during various carnivals and festivals to delight thousands of South Africans.
DATES
- Wednesday 13 August > Wednesday 27 August
Residence of artists in Orange Farm
- Saturday 30 August
Parade of giant puppets, "Out The Box" Festival, Cape Town
- Sunday 31 August
A la Corde and Parade of giant puppets, "Out The Box" Festival, Cape Town
- Thursday 4 September
A la Corde, Johannesburg
- Friday 5 September
Parade of giant puppets, Pretoria
- Saturday 6 September
Parade of giant puppets, Gauteng Carnival, Johannesburg
- Sunday 7 September
A la Corde, Pretoria
- Tuesday 9 September
A la Corde, Durban
- Thursday 11 September
A la Corde, Maseru
- Saturday 13 September
A la Corde, Port Elizabeth
About “Les Grandes Personnes”
“Les Grandes Personnes” is a collective that was formed in 1998 in Aubervilliers (France).
Its mission was developed around a popular and intrusive practice of visual arts with a highlight on ambulatory and participatory art forms : in particular “Les Grandes Personnes” vision embodied in giants puppets demonstrate that, once inside a city, they give it a new perspective.
Indeed when these puppets move around, onlookers watch through children’s eyes, offering urban dwellers new perspectives on their lifestyle. Collective “Les Grandes Personnes” has been taking part for eight years in many festivals and parades in France and abroad. It also founded several other associations to transmit their skills and vision and with one of them “Les Grandes Personnes d’Afrique” in Burkina Faso, several families of “giants” travelled and performed throughout Burkina Faso, from Boromo to Vieux Condé.
For more information
Marion : culture.jhb@alliance.org.za
Tel : 011 646 1169
Eleonore : comm.culture@ifas.org.za
Tel : 011 836 0561
