PROGRAMME
SERVICE
The many crises of the last few years have been pushing the catastrophe of climate change to the back of our societal debates. But Sergiu Matis knows that looking away does not solve the problem; the loss of biodiversity and the complex relations between human and non-human life has inspired multiple of the choreographer’s works: as a historical search for traces and as an expression of utopian aspirations. Matis’ new piece, Earth Works, is a sparkling masterpiece with five highly energetic dancers. At the same time, it takes a closer look at the present. The performers from a. o. Romania, Malta or New Zealand interpret poetic and literary texts by eight authors from all over the world, written especially for Earth Works. They are describing “places in their vicinity that are particularly close to their hearts”, according to Matis. They are accounts that testify to “the threat faced by these specific landscapes, and how they are being destroyed”.
Concept and choreography: Sergiu Matis
Performance: Lisa Densem, Moo Kim, Sergiu Matis, Nicola Micallef and Manon Parent
Text: Hana Pera Aoake, Rahima Gambo, Priya Jay, Jeanine Leane, Harun Morrison, Leena Valkeapää and Oula A. Valkeapää
Dramaturgy: Mila Pavićević
Music: Antye Greie-Ripatti (AGF)
Set design and lighting design: Ladislav Zajac
Costume design: Lisa Densem, Philip Ingman, Moo Kim, Sergiu Matis, Nicola Micallef and Manon Parent
Choreographic assistance: Laurie Young
Technical management and sound design: Andrea Parolin, Ivan Bartsch
Vocal coaching: Jule Flierl
Editorial coordination: Harun Morrison
German translation: Calvin Lanz
Production: Anna Chwialkowska and Philip Ingman
Distribution and tour management: Philip Ingman
A Sergiu Matis production
Funded by the Berlin Capital Cultural Fund (Hauptstadtkulturfonds) (DE).
Co-production: Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II Lisbon (PT) in the frame of apap – FEMINIST FUTURES (co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union), PACT Zollverein Essen (DE), Radialsystem Berlin (DE) and Tanzfabrik Berlin (DE)
Supported by Kunstencentrum BUDA Kortrijk (BE) in the frame of apap.
Additional excerpts from: Jeanine Leane’s poem “Kumbilor – hill in my Country” from the book Walk Back Over (2018), Carlton South: Corditebooks; Rahima Gambo’s video art work A Walk (2019); Harun Morrison’s unpublished poem The Telepathic Butterfly (2022); and Sergiu Matis’ unpublished poem Nothing remains(2024)
Jeanine Leane acknowledges: Aunty Iris Reid (Wiradjuri language teacher), Uncle Dr. Stan Grant (Snr.) (creator of the Wiradjuri dictionary together with settler linguist Dr. John Rudder) and Uncle Cecil Grant, pastor (deceased) (Wiradjuri language custodian and leader in Wiradjuri language revival