Smashed breaks the boundaries between circus, theater and dance, in a performance that addresses the conflicts created by power games. The tension grows as the show unfolds and gender connotations are revealed, hinted by the composition of the cast. They are two women and seven men, who try to dominate the situation.

Apples are the main accessory of the juggling acts. The performers manipulate the apples in repetitive gestures throughout the show, until a cathartic end, when teapots and cups are included in the scene, a reference to the British habit of drinking tea. The soundtrack alternates pop and classical music.

According to director Sean Gandini, the piece pays homage to the gestural universe of German choreographer Pina Bausch (1940 – 2009), with references of many of her works, such as Kontakthof (1978), which speaks of the contradictions between the genders and the fine line between attraction, love, violence and manipulation.

At the vanguard of contemporary circus for 27 years, the Gandini Juggling company is one of world’s biggest names when it comes to juggling. Smashed won the Herald Angels Awards at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

Director: Sean Gandini

Technical direction: Arnaud Stephenson

Playwright: John-Paul Zaccarini

Cast: Malte Steinmetz, Arron Sparks, Francesca Mari, Iñaki Sastre, Tedros Girmaye, Antek Klemm, Doreen Grossmann, Jon Udry and Guido van Hout

Production: Marina Arranz
Executive production: Rae Lee
Production in Brazil: Raquel Dammous

Brazil Première