The Empathic Limbo
2018
The Empathic Limbo
May 29th and 30th
TAGV, Coimbra
The first moments when Humanity was able to capture life and reproduce it in movement must have been extremely exciting. It’s not easy to imagine the emotion of watching, for the first time ever, the film recording of a past event or, to an individual, to observe oneself from the outside. With the invention of the recording of images on film we have been able to recover the past for the present and for the future. The gift of eternity was invented.
This current epoch, in which our existence has been suspended in something as immaterial as an invisible gas, is equally exciting. We are able to be anywhere and in many places simultaneously. The gift of ubiquity was invented.
And it’s extraordinary this time of our Humanity in which we carry a brain in the pocket that answers any question about any subject that invades our spirit. Omniscience is already invented.
We continue, however, without the answer we need to the fundamental question.
In this play we coincide in a place-moment of space-time with three people who constitute an open system. Based on their doubts and certainties, we reflect on existence, privacy, empathy, need, value, in an instant in the world where communication between human beings has become overwhelming.
One of the defining characteristics of a system is its limits. In this play, we walk on a set of delicate threads on the edge of what being human is.
Cast and Crew
Discussion and ideas Carolina Santos, Filipe Eusébio, Francisca Moreira, Laetitia Morais, Marcelo dos Reis, Mário Montenegro, Pedro Andrade, Sílvia Santos
Text and direction Mário Montenegro
Actors Carolina Santos, Filipe Eusébio, Mário Montenegro, Sílvia Santos
Projected movies Excertos de: Man With the Movie Camera, Dziga Vertov; The Immigrant, Charles Chaplin e The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene
Scenography, costumes and props Pedro Andrade
Lighting and technical direction Rui Simão
Video Laetitia Morais
Original soundtrack Marcelo dos Reis
Image Pedro Andrade e João Sarnadas
Executive production and stage photography Francisca Moreira
Scientific consultant Carlos Fiolhais
Hairstyling Carlos Gago – Ilídio Design
Co-production Marionet / TAGV
Partnership CNC – Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular da Universidade de Coimbra
Funding República Portuguesa – Cultura / Direcção-Geral das Artes, Câmara Municipal de Coimbra
Supporters Bonifrates, Convento São Francisco, Rómulo – Centro de Ciência Viva da Universidade de Coimbra, Fundação Bissaya Barreto, Ilídio Design Cabeleireiros, MAFIA – Federação Cultural de Coimbra
Acknowledgment Ana Luísa Cardoso, Ana Morais, Carlos Fiolhais, Edmundo Balsemão Pires, João Silva, José Vilhena, Paulo Marques
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