BOXING PUSHKIN
Premiere 14 of May 2007, Schouwburg Arnhem
and shows at Muziektheater over ‘t IJ Amsterdam, Korzo Theater The Hangue, Schouwburg Orpheus Apledoorn, Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen
A collaboration of orkest de ereprijs, Generale Oost and Studio for New Music Moscow with in the confines of the Pushkin Festival 2007
choreography / libretto / direction: Andrea Boll
dancers: Peter Kadar, Thomas Falk, Raul Maia, Andrea Beugger, Jaakko Toivonen, Jurgen Hierck & 10 dance students (internship) Hoge School voor de Kunsten Amsterdam and Artez Arnhem
actress: Annemarie van Haren
orchestra: de ereprijs and Studio for New Music Moscow
conductor: Igor Dronow (Bolshoi Theatre)
light design: André Pronk
costumes: Françoise Magrangeas
Boxing Pushkin is a danced journey through the live, work and fame of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837). Together with a tourist guide, a man from the future, a rabbit, an orchestra, an actress and sixteen dancers, the public is boxing itself a path through stacks of poems and stories.
The press about Boxing Pushkin
In the direction of choreographer Andrea Boll it is swirls short text fragments and sprays sweat from the dancers on to the audience who is standing around a real box ring….
… Boxing Pushkin is a swinging theatrical experience that makes you real happy.
(NRC, 15 of May 2007, Ingrid van Frankenhuyzen)
Exciting theatre spectacle drags you through the wayward life and work of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
Yet I couldn’t see all the festival productions, but Boxing Pushkin is without doubt the most turbulent of all. Boll creates with an overwhelming maze of characters, texts and actions an image of the historical hero, as we know him now a day. Dancers and actors move, fight and crawl everywhere; singers and musicians push the tempo. It feels like you sit in a wild rollercoaster. As a spectator, you want only one thing: to be a part of it.
(De Gelderlander, 15 of May 2007, Martin Hermans)
A fascinating spectacle, that is very rich of splendid images and lurid movement theater. The mise-en-scène is not only supported by fantastic light design but also by almost unbelievable dynamic movements of the dancers. Terrific!
(Apeldoornse Courant, 16 of May 2007)
Boxing Pushkin calks the festival around the poet: Everybody his own Pushkin, a light-hearted conclusion to an agreeably crazy performance.
(Trouw, 18 of May 2007, Anthony Fiumara)