Corpus Acrobatics Theatre
In 2005, by paying tribute to the French novelist Jules Verne (1828-1905) with their show ´Nemo’s Nautilus´, Corpus Acrobatics Theatre has been the initiator of ´The Year of Jules Verne´ one hundred years after his death.

Jules Verne had visionary thoughts about the future of the planet and the role that humanity plays in it. He lived at the time of the French Revolution (1848), when the industrial revolution in Europe was in full swing. The influence of new machinery and inventions were felt everywhere, marking the beginning of the modern era. Sailors came back from their distant voyages with strange stories about colonies and unknown lands. Jules Verne combined literature with adventure and science in his work. Having started his career as a playwright, he soon redirected his talents to a new literary genre in which he excelled. Millions of people all over the world, both adults and children, have read his books.

Now, one hundred years later, the fantasies of Jules Verne have come true, and his visionary ideas and inventions are now mirrored by our present world. Just like Jules Verne foresaw, the consequences of all these inventions and discoveries have led to both seemingly unlimited possibilities and conflicting situations. At which point does creation turn into destruction?

The novelist Jules Verne and his world-famous books about his incredible and impossible travels, including ´20,000 Leagues Under the Seas´, have been a major source of inspiration and form the main theme of this multi-media spectacle.

Captain Nemo´s exploration and conquering of the underwater world in his submarine Nautilus was still a completely unknown field in those days. In 1869, oceanography had not even reached the status of an official science yet. The wonders of the ocean which Verne described so dramatically may seem of little significance in today´s world which seems to be holding no secrets anymore, but in the time he wrote his novel, they were still as strange and mysterious as the other side of the moon. This makes ´20,000 Miles Under the Sea´ a prophetic book and an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Therefore the role and importance of water and of the oceans have been given special attention in this spectacle.

The show is a combination of the highly illusionary and visual acrobatics of Corpus, the many talents of Peter Faber, and impressive examples of video art, accompanied by the innovative music of Yens and Yens. All this is staged in a sensational setting of running water, from which the Nautilus submarine as well as strange water animals will be emerging, such as a gigantic Octopus.

Music
The use of two contrasting music styles, the technological music of the Dutch group Yens & Yens representing science and inventions, and the organic music of the Brasilian group Uakti, which stands for the mysteries of nature, results in a musical duel between Machine and Nature.

Yens & Yens
Yens & Yens was founded in 1985 as a composers and musicians collective, by Andries de Marez Oyens and Chris Heyens. Yens & Yens compose very emotive and stirring music, partly due to their frequent use of unfamiliar sounds.
Apart from composing music for dance, video and multi-media productions, they also build their own acoustic and electronic musical instruments. Each Yens & Yens composition is preceded by their designing and creating a specific set of instruments.

For ´20,000 Miles Under the Sea´ Yens & Yens have produced, in close co-operation with Corpus, a surround-sound audiotape which will be enhanced by live sound effects with a strong visual character. That is why Yens & Yens also have designed part of the settings and costumes for this show, in which special objects generate sounds, integrating the music into the mise en scène instead of just serving as a background.
The interplay between romanticism and technology that forms the basis of the scenario, makes an intriguing starting-point for a gripping composition.

Yens & Yens have been working with many groups and performers, including
Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, dance choreographers Rui Horta (München and Lisbon), Anouk van Dijk (Amsterdam), Elshout and Händler (Amsterdam), theatre group De Trust (Amsterdam), Earth Centre (cultural park England), the Dutch National Museum of Ethnology (Leiden) and VJ Eboman (Amsterdam).

Uakti
The unique style of music company Uakti from Brasil with its incredible sounds breathes an atmosphere of unspoilt nature. The magic of their music is a direct result of their practice of inventing their own instruments, using commonplace materials such as PVC pipes, glass, metal, stone, calabash and even water. The use of water brings an extra dimension to the over-all quality of the show.
For Uakti, everything generates sounds. Sound has its own character, profile, volume, form, image and colour.
Uakti has been performing with composers and musicians such as Milton Nascimento, Philip Glass, Manhattan Transfer and Paul Simon, touring all over the world. They have been granted many music awards, including the Ministeria de Cultura Award for best Brasilian popular music and the Santista 97 Award for most innovative popular music in Brasil. Uakti has made a wholly new composition especially designed for ´Nemo’s Nautilus´.

Frans Lanting
The video projections supporting ´Nemo’s Nautilus´ are based on the work of the famous nature photographer Frans Lanting, who is a regular contributor to
National Geographic Magazine and World Wildlife Fund.

More information www.franslanting.com

Peter Faber Peter Faber plays the spirit of Jules Verne who is looking back on his own creations, drawing parallels with today´s world. Peter Faber is an accomplished actor and multi-talented performer. He has starred in many famous films such as ´A Bridge to Far´, ´Ciske de Rat´, ´De Jantjes´, ´Dr. Vlimmen´, ´Max Havelaar´ and ´Soldier of Orange´. He excels in comical and often eccentric roles in theatre and television productions. Peter Faber is an actor who never does anything without a good reason. He belongs to the lucky few who keep being motivated by passion and ambition throughout their lives. He is very demanding of himself as well as very stimulating for others, putting them to work with great energy, ambition and zest. He is cut out for the roles of the eccentric Jules Verne and Captain Nemo. Its unique blend of creative disciplines makes ´Nemo’s Nautilus´ a great tribute in a timeless universe. This multi-media spectacle is suitable for a wide audience.

Quotations from Captein Nemo out of “ 20.000 Leagues under The Seas”

"It required many ages to find out the mechanical power of steam. Who knows if in another 100 years we may not see a second Nautilus. It is true "I answered" your boat is at least a century before it's time, perhaps an era, what a misfortune that a secret of such an invention should die with its inventor".

"I owe the ocean: it produces electricity gives heat, light, motion, and, in a word life to the Nautilus. So it is this sodium that I extract from the seawater, and of which I compose my ingredients".

"The Captain told me that formerly numerous tribes of seals inhabited them: but that English and American whalers in their rage for destruction massacred both old and young; thus where there was ones life and animation, they had left silence and death".

"The ice took most surprising forms, here the grouping formed an oriental town, with innumerable mosques and minarets: there a fallen city thrown to the earth, as it were, by some convulsion of nature".

Zie ook Jules Verne genootschap

Colophon
Choreography & concept: Vincent Michels - ´Jules Verne´ interpreted by Peter Faber
Music: Yens & Yens and Uakti
Choreography assistent: Marley Eltz
Images: Frans Lanting
Settings: Ruud Panhuyzen and Arlet ter Haar
Special effects consultant: Roland Ikelaar
Translation: Giselle Gouverne
Lighting design: Maarten Verheggen
Production: Corpus Acrobatic Theatre
Production assistent: Diane du Pont
Sponsoring consultant: John Loudon
Technique: Clipper Music Service
Printing & Design: The Lemon House Creative Advertising
Publicity and Marketing: Built for Comfort Communications
Photo Copyrights: Royal Fead Ship, David Doubilet, Andrea Ghisotti, and Corpus Acrobatic Theatre


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