After several adventures and postponements related to the pandemic, the Théâtre à Tempo’s show Camping will finally be presented in Montreal at Tohu from December 13th. After two and a half years of touring Europe, but also Quebec, the artists are ready to present this family creation in large format for the very last time.
“To create a show, I often draw inspiration from a place where multiple communities come together, people who don’t necessarily come from the same universe. I really like putting situations like this on stage, they become slightly clownish,” explains Geneviève Kérouac, co-founder of the company and director of the show Camping. In fact, it was her personal experience that inspired her to create this creation, made in 2018. “I lived very close to a campsite where people left their caravans all year round and often got stuck [sur l’autre]. I asked myself: “Why stay so much?” And seeing people from two worlds queuing in front of the toilet at the same time has comic potential, laughs the circus artist. I observed them and ultimately these people had a lot of activities together. Camping is a way to get together, have a vacation and bring all ages together. »
As usual, Théâtre à Tempo plays a lot with humor and clowning, one of the foundations of the company founded in 2008. “When we founded it with Louis Laroche, Benoit Lemay and Olivier Forest, we wanted to put more emphasis on clown art, which touched us a lot, music, body percussion. We really loved those elements,” recalls Ms. Kerouac. So in camping we find all these elements, but not only that. Stacking (stacking chairs), juggling, hand-to-hand, diving board, aerial belts, dance and much more complement the variety of disciplines represented in the show. “I like to justify the equipment and circus skills in a scenario. Here people don’t necessarily see a big story with details, but rather relationships between people and their circus actions are motivated by the situations. It’s more theater, physical theater than contemporary circus,” describes the company’s general director. In addition to some recorded songs, live musicians can also be heard at Camping. In addition, most of the artists also make music for the show. “This is a 1970s world, there is a lot of live music, especially with a good laugh by the fire,” she adds.
I like to justify the equipment and circus skills in a scenario. Here people don’t necessarily see a big story with details, but rather relationships between people and their circus actions are motivated by the situations. It’s more theater, physical theater than contemporary circus.
Laughter, one of the company’s values
For Tohu, Théâtre à Tempo offers the long version of Camping. In fact, there is also a shorter version for outdoor use, which is often used by the artist troupe in the summer. “Camping in the Parks is a smaller, self-supporting show that we host in kiosks and parks and that we will continue to tour,” says Geneviève Kérouac. But this long version, over an hour and a half, is pretty much the end of its life. »
The fact that the theme is summer and the show airs in the middle of the Montreal winter does not scare Ms. Kerouac in any way. On the other hand. “We also did it in the middle of winter in Quebec, at Le Diamant, and I think it puts people in a good mood. It worked really well, it feels good, especially because we have a few references to the Christmas season,” she says.
In addition to the circus disciplines, the company places great emphasis on laughter in most of its shows. And this one is no exception. “What you have to understand is that it is a show that makes children laugh, but not only that! It’s in our values that everyone finds it funny. We don’t want adults to only be there to support the youngest. The parents have to laugh, but also a little 5-year-old wolf and the grandparents. We want everyone laugh, but really laugh! It’s not just gags. Each generation has fun at different times, that’s all! », concludes Ms. Kerouac.
camping
From theater to tempo. In Tohu from December 13th to 31st.