“Doyna!” by Théâtre Spirale Senegal tour
“Doyna!” is a new performance piece by Théâtre Spirale with a cast of thirteen actors and musicians from Senegal, Mali, France and Switzerland, based on the text “Murer la peur” by Mozambican author Mia Couto. The production combines theatre, dance and music to make a poetic and urgent statement about the state of the world. The Senegal tour from 18-25 August 2023 will include three performances at Centre Culturel Régional de Thiès, the École des Sables, Toubab Dialaw and the Centre Culturel Blaise Senghor in Dakar.
We have reached a point in history where we believe we need to take concrete action to reconnect citizens with the act of theatre. We are calling for quality “popular theatre” that is accessible and demanding, and that speaks in a lively and vibrant way about the social and environmental struggles that drive us.
On the one hand, we are destroying biodiversity and the social fabric, jeopardising the future of humanity, our forests are burning and speculators continue to plunder and destroy our resources. But there are also people taking concrete action at every level, creative forces mobilising to counter the desolation. We create, we invent, we bring people together, we help each other.
Faced with the state of the world, there’s much to be concerned about, to be indignant about, to revolt against, but above all, we need to mobilise and act, act fast, act here and now!
We’ve chosen to take action through the theatre, a theatre that brings together artists and citizens from around the world to create a high-quality poetic and cultural event. We want to reflect together on our daytime and nighttime dreams, our desires for change and how to bring them about.
With music at its heart, “Doyna!” explores the permutations of fear in contemporary society and makes a stand against this with humour and vitality to build bridges between cultures.
Théâtre Spirale have been working on the conception and development of the production for over five years with various groups of amateur and professional actors in training in Switzerland and Senegal. Eight of the artists that feature in the production have completed Théâtre Spirale’s 3-year professional training programme with the LE PONT project and ARCOTS in Thiès.
THE CAST
Text: Mia Couto
Directed, written and designed: Patrick Mohr
Actors, musicians and dancers: Ami Badji, Mame Diarra, Gnagna N’diaye, Cathy Sarr, Aissatou Syla, Maimouna Doumbia, Amanda Cepero and Lou Golaz
Musicians, actors, composers: Khalifa Mbaye, Papis Diebaté, Adama Diop, Fallou Diop, and Dramane Dembelé
Assistant director: Alassane Gueye
Lighting: Francesco Dell’elba
Costumes and props: Ousmane Sy
Choreography: Diwele Lubi and Aïssatou Syla
Administration: Vincent Jacquemet
Stage manager: Thierno Benga
ABOUT
Théâtre Spirale is an independent company based in Geneva co-directed by Patrick Mohr and Michele Millner. The company aims to bring together artists from different cultures in order to develop a common language and create original works. Since its creation in 1990, Théâtre Spirale has created 40 professional productions, 20 shows with the Ateliers Spirale and organised 10 Word of Mouth festivals.
