English
Between the 19th of May and 5th of June, the Mercat de les Flores in Barcelona presents art and dance piece Degustación de Titus Andrónicus by the company Fura dels Baus. This experimental, vanguard play on a Shapespeare classic unites all the senses, breaking all possible barriers in art.
Theatre company Fura dels Baus was founded in Barcelona by Marcelí Antunez Roca, Quico Palomar, Carles Padrissa and Pere Tantinyà in 1979. Since its beginnings it has defined itself as an experimental company that seeks dramatic representation which breaks with classical theatre – from the performance to the relation to the public. As such, they created the term furero language in order to refer to this encounter between the public, the work and the company.
During the 1980s, the company incorporated theatrical action into its repertoire, and started to work with music, dance, industrial and natural materials and new technologies. At this time, the creation of a collective developed into the active involvement of the spectator with the play, generating a true revolution in the world of theatre.
In the 90s, with new digital technologies, they started to work with opera, and with spectacles of greater dimension, participating in the production of the opening ceremony for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Degustación Titus Andrónicus is a return to furore language, with the adaptation of William Shakespeare´s The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, which is centred around human passions and the emotions which stem from the five senses – sight, hearing, feel, smell and taste. Whilst four of the senses are easily incorporated into a dramatic play, the fifth, taste, is the novelty feature of this particular play – and it is what Fura dels Baus adds to the mix. A chef – Andoni Luis Andúriz from Mugaritz no less, prepares a banquet of tasters which overpowers the space until the tragic finale. Then, later, those who have entered the competition via www.furatitus.com can sit down at the table onstage, and enjoy the banquet.
As is customary in their works, dance, movement, texts, high-tech set design with huge screens and a kitchen – are all of top quality. Interestingly, in the middle of the intrigues, violence and danger evoked by the arrival of Titus to Rome, the aroma from the exquisite foods is just noticed, as they are prepared just next to the action – a provocative and challenging engagement with the public, and their perceptions and attention.
Beyond this exciting play, the Fura dels Baus have developed an internet project, Work in Progress 97, which connects up scenes occurring simultaneously in various different cities. They have also dabbled in cinema, with the film Fausto 5.0.
For more information http://www.mercatflors.org/fitxa/435/m/6/degustacin-de-titus-andrnicus
Nancy Guzman
If you like experimenting with new sensations and feeling new emotions, head to the Mercat de las Flores to watch Degustación from Titus Andrónicus, if you are spending some days renting apartments in Barcelona
Translated by: Poppy
