Mea Culpa

Solo performace of Charles Nomwendé Tiendrebéogo from Burkina Faso combines the traditions of African masks, contemporary physical theater, and modern dance.

The project draws inspiration from the roots of African culture, its rituals, music, stories, rhythms, colors, and omnipresent spirituality, combining indigenous natural religions and imported world religious systems. In this context, Charles Nomwendé Tiendrebéogo narrates the modern history of Africa, intertwined with bloodshed, genocide, corruption, and bloody power struggles.

The music and sound composition are the work of Elii Moretti, who created the music based on real sound recordings from the everyday reality of the city and nature in Burkina Faso.

STORY

When they were still alive on this earth, these spirits were very influential people, driven by excessive ambition. So what would be justice and how could they deserve eternal rest if everything that happens, everything that still harms living beings on earth and for which these spirits are responsible, is not corrected? From decision to action, from the present to the past, from life to death—to what musical rhythm will our souls dance in that world? During one ordinary night, the cemetery guard is forced to lend his body to these invisible beings, who must reverse their fate of eternal damnation and attempt to redeem themselves.

Premiere: 9. 3. 2019
Plum Yard, Malovice, CZ

  • Dramaturgy: Charles N. Tiendrebéogo, Pavel Štourač
  • Concept, Directed by, Stage design: Charles N. Tiendrebéogo
  • Artistic supervision: Pavel Štourač
  • Masks: Collette Roy
  • Expert collaboration on masks: Erhard Stiefel
  • Music: Elia Moretti
  • Light design: Jiří Šmirk
  • Artistic collaboration: Anna Kuch
  • Co-production: Švestkový Dvůr (CZ), Accademia Teatro Dimitri (CH)
  • Performers: Charles Nomwendé Tiendrebéogo
  • Photography: František Drábek, Kamil Košun, Jiří Plos
European Union Czech Recovery Plan Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic Státní fond kultury ČR Jihočeský kraj

The new graphic design / branding for Divadlo Continuo (project r. n. 0464100501) was implemented with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU via the National Recovery Plan and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic within the Creative Vouchers program.

The project Digitalization of the Continuo Theater Archive (r. n. 0443000065) was funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU through the National Recovery Plan and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic as part of the program for the Development of Digitalization, Documentation, and Information Activities in the Field of Visual Arts and Architecture II.