Between Laughter and Slaughter / Luciana Arcuri
An Interactive Journey of the Lonely Clown Maria Eugênia
Work in Progress
Language: Portuguese, English, German
In “Between Laughter and Slaughter: An Interactive Journey of the Lonely Clown Maria Eugênia,” we dive into the magical and surreal world of Maria Eugênia, a lonely clown whose vivid imagination guides her through a universe of dreams. As she playfully immerses herself in her daydreams, she remains unaware of the harsh reality surrounding her: an invisible war that is consuming the world around her.
The audience is invited to actively engage with the story and influence the plot through their decisions. As the invisible war intensifies, Maria Eugênia begins to notice the shadows creeping into her fantasies. Suddenly, she is confronted with the brutal reality of the conflict haunting her world. This is the turning point where the clown's playful world intertwines with the cruel reality. With the audience's help, she embarks on an emotional and transformative journey where her childhood dreams merge with the struggle for survival and the hope that, amid chaos, life can improve for everyone.
The performance is the result of a creative process that began at the start of the pandemic in 2020 with the support of Cesar Gouvea and is now being continued under the direction of Ibon Goitia. Ibon has been collaborating with Luciana Arcuri on other projects since 2019, but they have been developing this show together since 2023.
Clown: Luciana Arcuri
Director: Ibon Goitia
Concept: Luciana Arcuri, Ibon Goitia
Choreographic assistance: Peti Costa
Lighting technician: Thiago Rosa
Luciana Arcuri, clownesse, a Brazilian residing in Berlin since 2016, is a dedicated clown with Red Noses Germany - Red Noses International. She conducts workshops in clowning and physical theater globally. Co-founder of "Maria Eugênia & Margarita," she also founded the Clown Festival Berlin in 2023. Collaborating with groups like Gruppe 8, she holds a Bachelor's from Pontificia Università Catolica of Sao Paulo. Currently, she explores performance creation, clowning, and theatrical collaborations, participating in festivals worldwide, while honing her skills in dance and Aikido. Notably, she received an Honorable Mention at the Breves Cenas de Manaus Festival.
https://www.lucianaarcuri.com/
Ibon Goitia is a director, actor and musician based in Berlin. He was born in Bilbao and grew up in an inspiring artistic environment, as his parents were the directors of the Basque folk dance and music group Itxas-Alde, with which he toured as a dancer, choreographer and musician for many years. He first studied classical music and jazz, as well as traditional music from different cultures. He then immersed in the world of physical theatre and circus, first training with renowned teachers such as Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey), Lionel Ménard, Eric de Sarria (Compagnie Philippe Genty) and Radim Vizváry (Laterny Magiky) and then graduating from the well-known clown school of Philippe Gaulier. In 2017 he co-founded the multidisciplinary theatre company Kabinet Mirage, with which he has directed and performed several shows across Europe.