Mariana Silva of the Argentinian non-verbal circus, Mandrágora Circus, tells us that they connect with people the world over with common themes of love and relationships
There are no words, literally, for this comical circus-meets-theatre performance presented by Mariana Silva and Juan Cruz Bracamonte of the Argentinian show, Mandrágora Circo, also called Mandrágora Circus, which embarked on an international tour after performing in Argentina from 2003 to 2010. Having toured over 40 countries, the two artistes are premiering the show in India — in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.
Mariana tells us, “In Asia, India was the main country we wanted to visit because we know there are so many different regions and there’s a rich tradition of performing arts here.”
A new kind of circus
Even though circus is a fading art in India, the artistes were not apprehensive about bringing Mandrágora Circus here since it’s a new concept. “Our purpose is not the circus alone but the story. It’s a combination of music, dance, and acrobatics, which makes it interesting,” Mariana says.
Connecting with people
The biggest surprise while performing in different locations is the fact that in spite of the diverse cultures and languages, the audiences’ reactions are the same. “The show has a universal theme, which is love and relationship between human beings. People connect with the characters following every action and moment. It means in terms of feelings, we’re all the same. Though, sometimes in some countries, people are more euphoric or shy than in the others,” Mariana says, “During the performance, usually children make comments about what is happening to the characters on the stage, so we know how they are understanding the show. Also, the laughter and reactions of adults make us realise how connected they are with the story.” After a performance, the audiences are usually thankful because the wordless performance could be enjoyed by everyone regardless of their age, she adds. “It makes adults feel like children again. People usually remark about the fact that a family — grandparents and children — can enjoy the performance together,” she smiles.
Still a challenge
Even after 15 years and tons of shows, Mandrágora, which is directed by Juan, finds performing challenging because of the uncertainty of people’s reactions and expectations about how it will work. “Every time is like the first time we are presenting the show and that gives us the motivation to continue. Also, it always works well; the audience and we are happy with the results. That is also the reason we are still presenting this show after such a long time,” Mariana says, adding that they give repeat performances at some places and audiences not only return to see the show but also bring their family and friends along.
Mandrágora Circus will play at NCPA Experimental Theatre on December 10, 12 pm and 5 pm
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