The Romeo
Trajal Harrell
Zürich Dance Ensemble
Artistic director of the Zürich Dance Ensemble, the American and Switzerland based choreographer and performer deploys a mythical dance that takes its name from the figure of Shakespeare’s young hero in a chorus of singularities.
Trajal Harrell, a familiar face on the Belgian stage, returns with an ambitious piece, presented in the main courtyard of the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, among other venues. Set against a backdrop of perforated walls reminiscent of medieval Italy, the performers begin by presenting themselves in their natural state: A name, a personal characteristic. People before characters.
Soon, these distinct bodies – with their multiple genders, physiognomies and origins – will form a common body, a chorus and a crowd, a melting pot of mixed identities. This is how Harrell dissects, multiplies and diffracts Romeo. The Romeo, literary and theatrical emblem. The young lover in search of the absolute that this definite article paradoxically opens up to the universal.
In music and movement, the creator plays with mixes: from voguing to butoh, from catwalk aesthetics to queer and black inspiration. The result is a loose parade, a dance that is at once ancestral and contemporary, infused with popular culture and imbued with naturalness and sophistication.
Trajal Harrell received the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2024.
Corealisation Kaaitheater, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
Tickets are also available from our partner.
Calendar
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- 20:00
Introduction · 19:30 + Discussion with Trajal Harrell and Maria Dogahe (Kaai)
Sold out -
- 20:00Sold out
Information
Duration
1hr15
Venue
Grande Salle
Price
€9 > €30
Cast
With
New Kyd
Frances Chiaverini
Vânia Doutel Vaz
Maria Ferreira Silva
Rob Fordeyn
Challenge Gumbodete
Trajal Harrell
Thibault Lac
Christopher Matthews
Nasheeka Nedsreal
Perle Palombe
Stephen Thompson
Songhay Toldon
Ondrej Vidlar
Direction, choreography, co-scenography, and costumes
Trajal Harrell
Co-scenography
Nadja Sofie Eller
Music
Trajal Harrell / Asma Maroof
Additional original music
Felix Casaer
Trajal Harrell
Lighting
Stéfane Perraud
Dramaturgy
Katinka Deecke
Miriam Ibrahim
Audience development
Mathis Neuhaus
Touring, international relations and production
Björn Pätz / ART HAPPENS
Assistant director
Camille Charlotte Roduit
Assistant scenographer
Eva Lillian Wagner
Assistant costume designer
Mona Eglsoer / Monika Annabel Zimmer
Production intern
Maimuna Barry
Stage manager
Aleksandar Sascha Dinevski
Produced by
Schauspielhaus Zürich avec Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble
In coproduction with
Festival d’Avignon, Holland Festival (Amsterdam), Singapore International Festival of Arts, Berliner Festspiele, La Villette (Paris), Festival D’Automne à Paris, Comédie de Genève, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève, La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand scène nationale, TANDEM – Scène Nationale (Douai), December Dance - Concertgebouw and Cultuurcentrum Brugge
Supported by
Trajal Harrell Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble Fan Club