Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world - a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai.
From the sky falls a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of all possibilities, begins an inspired incantation to life rediscovered.
The word Varekai means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.
Reist rond in de VS, Canada, Duitsland, Oostenrijk, LuxemburgMeer info
Stéphane Roy set out to create a contextualized set for Varekai —a design in which all the elements harmonize with the poetry and language of performance: costumes, scenery, and music.
The Varekai universe is made up of . . .
A fabulous and mysterious hideaway the Varekai characters have made their home. Consisting of over 300 “trees” between 4.5 metres and 10.5 metres tall, the forest is also interspersed with twenty-odd “acrobatic trees” that its inhabitants can climb up to see what’s going on.
Extending out of the golden forest, this is the terrain on which the characters move about. It’s a golden clearing with a diameter of 12.8 metres. Specially designed for the show’s aesthetic and acrobatic needs, the stage harbours five traps, two turntables and an elevating platform.
Reminiscent of the spine of an immense bird, the catwalk is the invention of the forest’s inhabitants. It allows them to step outside, collect bits and pieces, and climb high in their quest to touch the sky. Used by artists to travel over the stage from one end to the other, this 30-metre long staircase is key to their survival.
At the end of the catwalk, just above the audience, is the lookout—the centrepiece of the set. It is a link to the outside world, a lookout point to see what lies ahead. This 7-squaremetre platform also serves as a cabin for one of the forest’s inhabitants.