29 July 2005

Tall Horse on tour

In 1826, the Pasha of Egypt put a whole new slant on the notion of gift giving, ordering a giraffe be captured in Sudan and brought to France’s King Charles X. Duly snared, the giraffe and her abductor set off on the long journey, during which they develop a powerful bond. It’s a story so fantastic that it has to be true—and most of it is.
An intra-African collaboration between South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company and the Sogolon Puppet Troupe of Mali, Tall Horse is vibrant and evocative theater, drawing on the story’s complex political, social, and cultural implications. The production turns the historical tables to show the African “discovery” of Europe, examining both the past and present state of African-European relations. Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa, in collaboration with the Sogolon Puppet Troupe of Mali, dancer and choreographer Koffi Kôkô of Benin, New York-based playwright Khephra Burns and South African director Marthinus Basson are mounting TALL HORSE.

Its playing throughout the US in August-September and also forms part of the Next Wave 2005 Festival - BAM Harvey Theater in New York Oct 4—8 at 7:30pm, Oct 9 at 3pm. See you there?

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