Théâtre Forum Meyrin, 2016 © Pierre Abensur
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Yan Duyvendak et Omar Ghayatt, artistes et performeurs respectivement suisse et égyptien, mettent en scène leur rencontre, leurs doutes et leurs différences à travers une série de scènes – les spectateurs choisissant ensemble celles qui seront jouées, le spectacle est différent chaque soir. L’un et l’autre représentent la partie du monde d’où ils viennent, mais le dialogue, l’espace et le temps partagés défont progressivement les a priori culturels et idéologiques qui nourrissent peurs et rejets – sans nier pour autant les mésententes et les contradictions.
Puis il y eut le souffle nouveau du Printemps arabe et, bientôt, le délitement guerrier du Proche-Orient. La méfiance suspicieuse se mue en guerre, état d’urgence et surveillance généralisée. L’Europe ne parvient à répondre que par la peur ou l’indifférence aux guerres et aux détresses. Prolongé d’un épilogue, Made in Paradise devient Still in Paradise.
Texte: Eric Vautrin, 2016
Still in Paradise
"Just do it" meets "Inshallah." Individualism talks with "God’s will". Created in 2008, the performance was first called Made in Paradise. Paradise, that’s heaven on earth through high income and profits as promised by unbridled capitalism. Paradise, that’s an afterlife sweetened by a bevy of virgins as promised by Islamic fundamentalism. The gulf between them exploded into view on 9/11. Since then, undifferentiated antagonism has spread around the globe, labelled a "clash of civilizations". The Arab world as a whole has become suspect and for many Westerners, neo-liberal values are the only guarantee of a functioning society.
Yan Duyvendak and Omar Ghayatt, artists and performers from Switzerland and Egypt respectively, briefly introduce a series of scenes, touching on their encounter, their doubts and their differences. The spectators then choose which ones are to be played out in full. This means the show is different every night.
Each of the two artists represents the part of the world he comes from. But shared space, time and dialogue gradually undo preconceived cultural and ideological notions that feed fear and negation - without ignoring disagreements and contradictions.
Then came the new spirit of the Arab Spring. However, it swiftly degenerated into either stifling dictatorship or war and disintegration in much of North Africa and the Middle East. To the stories and images of death, atrocities and persecution, Europe’s answers are fear and the erecting of inner and outer barriers.
Extended by an epilogue, Made in Paradise has become Still in Paradise.