Media Release: Scottish debut of the extraordinary groupe, Acrobatique de Tanger, and the UK premiere of Chouf Ouchouf

Eden Court, Inverness, 12 and 13 April

Family circus company, Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger, has been presenting its brand of dazzling acrobatics since 1904. Now the seventh generation of the company makes its Scottish debut to give the UK premiere of its latest show, Chouf Ouchouf.

Chouf Ouchouf
, a collaboration with Swiss artists, Martin Zimmermann and Dimitri de Perrot, weaves together contemporary performance and traditional Moroccan acrobatics to evoke the danger, joy and urgency of a Moroccan medina.

It’s a snapshot of daily living in Tangier’s old quarter, with real issues of family and community, where it is ten to a house and 100 to the narrowest street.

The 12-strong cast move through a set that floats apart and reassembles to represent the many faces of a bewildering and exciting landscape, taking in the old and the nearly new, in search of the city’s beating heart.

Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger is the latest incarnation of the Hammich family troupe. Dating back to1904, they were a regular fixture on the UK seaside circuit throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

In 2004, practising their skills on the beach at Tangier, the company was spotted by Sanae El Kamouni-Lakmais and French director, Aurelien Bory, who went on to direct the 2006 hit show, Taoub.

Now, members of the founding family perform in Chouf Ouchouf, displaying the authentic yet dazzling tricks of their forefathers and the inventive theatricality of Zimmermann and de Perrot.

Chouf Ouchouf is presented by creative producers Crying Out Loud, renowned for bringing memorable international companies to the UK.

Press contact: Martha Oakes or Sue Lancashire at Martha Oakes PR on 020 8854 5460 / 07798 626 555, martha.oakes@btconnect.com, sue.lancashire@btconnect.com

Notes to editors

1.    Established in 2002, Crying Out Loud (COL) is an organisation that holds the work of artists at its centre. As a pioneer of the Creative Producer role, COL has since been creating memorable events for festivals and theatres in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe and has introduced International artists to the UK, including James Thiérrée and Collectif AOC from France; Italy’s TPO; Dan Zanes from USA; and European artists Aurélia and Victoria Thiérrée Chaplin.

Other activities include curating special events for Manchester International Festival, The Roundhouse and Somerset House’s Free Time.

2.    Zimmermann & de Perrot’s most recent show Oper Opis opened the 2010 London International Mime Festival at the Barbican.

3.    cryingoutloud.org

4.    zimmermanndeperrot.com

5.    Chouf Ouchouf is suitable for ages seven to adult

6.    Running time approximately 60 minutes

Scottish tour dates

Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 April

Eden Court, Inverness

Box office 01463 234234

www.eden-court.co.uk

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April

MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling

Box office 01786 466666

www.macrobert.org

MEDIA RELEASE posted by Eden Court Theatre. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.

Contact: Laurie Piper
Phone: 01463 732673
Email: lpiper@eden-court.co.uk
Website: http://www.eden-court.co.uk