Awarded
Zimmermann & de Perrot: Martin Zimmermann / Dimitri de Perrot
'Chouf Ouchouf', stage design
Scenography
Awarded
'Chouf Ouchouf', stage design
Scenography
An Ode to Zimi & Dimi
There are two reasons why writing about the works of Martin Zimmermann and Dimitri de Perrot is not an easy task. Firstly, because they were not really discussed during the jury's evaluation of the works submitted for the Federal Prize for Design. Secondly, because it is difficult to take an objective view of the opus of Zimmermann & de Perrot, if one has seen live performances of their dance theatre pieces.
These two reasons share the same basis: both artists are exceptional talents.
During the evaluation process, not a single member of the jury had to be convinced that they deserved the prize. Nor was it a case of just 'waving them through' with a bored gesture. Rather, the jury took great joy in awarding the prize once more for a further project by Zimmermann & de Perrot. For years, the musician Dimitri de Perrot and the dancer and acrobat Martin Zimmermann have created pieces that have the audience sit in their seats astonished, laughing, deeply impressed, stunned and admiring and leaving the theatre happy and inspired. The lightness with which acrobatics, dance, music and stage design are united and constantly reinvented and recombined is unique in the world of theatre.
'Chouf Ouchouf' is the third piece to receive a prize from the Federal Office of Culture. After 'Gaff Aff' and 'Öper Öpis', it is the third programme with which Zimmermann & de Perrot go on a world tour. It was originally developed, because the 'Groupe acrobatique de Tanger' asked them to write a piece for them.
The scenography consists of five tall and colourful towers. These towers form a city which during the play the twelve acrobats live in, occupy, climb up on, play on, and fall down from. Due to the mobility of the towers, this city also develops its own separate existence which in turn impacts on the artists and their freedom of movement, opening up new perspectives and changing old ones. This game allows the performers to constantly show a new face to the spectators and to elicit all sorts of emotions in them. With 'Chouf Ouchouf', Zimmermann & de Perrot take us on an intensive, beautiful and mysterious journey, to an unfamiliar world in which from time to time we recognise ourselves and our environment.
Anna Niederhäuser
Dimitri de Perrot
Born in
1976
Education
Director, composer, musician, stage designer
Group name
Zimmermann & de Perrot
Martin Zimmermann
Born in
1970
Education
Director, choreographer, clown, stage designer
Group name
Zimmermann & de Perrot