Conomor A tragicomedy of celtic inspiration «Autour et en-dessous de l île ( ) s étend un vaste océan d inconscient- fait de ce que nous ne savons pas ou que nous avons oublié. Une vérité étonnante faite de brume et de brouillard et du fantôme non reconnaissable de la mémoire et du rêve» Hustvedt Compagnie Via Cane «La Grange» 234 rue Luzel 22420 Plouaret Site : viacane.com E-Mail : viacane@yahoo.fr La Compagnie est aidée par Plouaret, LTC, le Conseil Général des Côtes d Armor et la Région Bretagne
Notes from the author Conomor, king of Pohan, breton figure of BlueBeard, is at the crossing of several celtic tales from England, Ireland et Brittany. This tyrannical king described by the irish author Synge in «Deirdre of the Sorrows» is that same who protects Tristan and is betrayed by him in the tale «Tristan et Yseult». Emblematic figure of great dramatical texts and european medieval repertory The wish to adapt it brought me to Yeats, Shakespeare and Synge, to capt the essence of it in order to recreate a language and an atmosphere borrowed to these great authors. «Conomor» is therefore a new, modern work, drawing in celtic, continental, island and pagan roots. A celebration of our european culture wich I work on since many years as an author, director and promoter in cultural projects. The Fable Conomor, the tyrannical king, is about to wed Maëlle, the princess of whom he killed the father, and whose hand will bring him the whole land. But Maëlle loves another one, Duncan, the king's right-hand. This one find the hidden sister of Maëlle, Doïl, and fall in love with her. Invited to the castle, she is to wed Duncan while the King celebrate his own wedding. Jealous, Maëlle will summons the power of three Witches in order to kill her own sister. But as it happens, those three Witches, like fate itself, cannot be controlled. They are going to play a whole game of mask and dupe by substituting themselves to the princesses, and by slipping in the men's beds. And there are to be added Songs, a Raven harbing of dubious premonitions, a Jester of worsen wisdom...
Notes from the director «Conomor» is the tale of intertwining passions between four characters bound by the fate : two couples interchanged by fatality. This fatality is represented by three witches, unscrupulous and moraly corrupt characters, eager to ruin... or to help! The helplessness to escape a conflict, a devouring passion, or its own violence are such disabilities portrayed by hieratic puppets inspired by the Lewis Chessmen found in Scotland, and by the work of sculptor Régis Lavaud. Moving on an oaken set piece representing a theatre, those puppets are moved by visible actors. The Jester and the Witches, more talkative and free-moving, are handled from beneath while the others will be handled from the top. A unique articulation will symbolise the character (eyes, mouth or arm, it depends) The actors puppeteers will also be harpists and viola de gamba players, like the harpists and troubadours who told those tales of old. Tragicomedy of Passion and Power, «Conomor» will taste of salted sea, aerial celtic songs, rough peat, and the folly and humour of shakespearian Jesters.
Scéna
From Plouaret to Charleville Since its creation in 1995, the Company Via Cane forges links from its creations to its journeys. Drawing inspiration in our european roots, the meeting and the exchange are at the heart of its reflexions. This singular, political and poetic approach, feed its cultural actions on territory " The Themes of Season ", as its European actions around the puppet "Puppets in Europe". Our work in Plouaret municipality and county enriched with relationships with Liège, Poland and soon Berlin. Our shows are performed beyond our frontiers in England, Czech Republic and Germany. The long-lasting twinning between plouaret (Brittany) and Charleville (Irlande) is an opening on the world and we wish to serve it by our work. «Conomor» is a central character for both our cultures, Breton and Irish. Alicia Ducout, puppeteer actress on this project, speaks and sings in English and Gaelic. The show will be produced in the both languages and presented in exclusivity for both our territories. The purpose of this partnership «Conomor, from Plouaret to Charleville» is to take a fresh look at the cooperation between people. It is about offering a gaze on our roots and contributing to our intercultural exchanges. To make it possible, a double session of creation, opened to the public, along with performances on both our territories, will allow to celebrate the twinning in an artistic way.
Planning January The time of creation goes from january to april 2016 A first time of fifteen days will take place in the municipality of Plouaret, dedicated to the framework. February The second time of ten days will also take place in the municipality of Plouaret. In particular, we will approach the work more precisely and will work on the music. Meeting sessions around the creation could be organized with the schools. 16 March to April Last session of fifteen days will take on the municipality of Charleville. During this time, we offer to meet the pupils of Charleville's schools to speak about the topic of the artistic creation work. The show will be played at the end of this session, in Charleville and in other cities of Ireland. June The show will be offered for the Festival of Tales in Plouaret.