AS A TIGER IN THE JUNGLE
A performance inspired by the lives and destiny of our performers Renu and Aman, and their experiences as rescued child circus slaves in India. But also from other Nepalese children being trafficked into slavery in Indian traditional circus. From 2002, when this was discovered, over 700 children have been discovered and rescued. Still between 1000 and 2000 children are believed to be kept in bonded labour in Indian traditional circuses.
In 2013 producer Ali Williams spent a year working as the Creative Director of Circus Kathmandu. Circus Kathmandu was a group of 13 young men and women who all were rescued from Indian circuses, including our performers, Renu and Aman.
Sverre Waage was invited to come to Kathmandu to meet and have a workshop with the newly formed circus company. That was the start of a collaboration with the aim to build bridges between the developing circus environment in Kathmandu and the International community of performing art producers and programmers in Norway, UK and Europe.
The first main achievement is the production and touring of As a Tiger in The Jungle, representing the international partnership of prize-winning director and play-writer Sverre Waage (Norway) and Ali Williams (Wales), co-founder and former creative producer of NofitState Circus.
Ali and Sverre have been working with the two Nepalese circus artists, Renu and Aman, since 2016. As a Tiger in The Jungle is a unique fusion of Asian and European performance, circus and music. Original music score composed by Per Zanussi.
With: Renu Ghalan Tamang (Nepal), Aman Tamang (Nepal) & Loan TP Hoang (Vietnam/Norway)
Text, Script and Direction: Sverre Waage (Norway)
Music: Per Zanussi (Norway/Italy)
Musicians in studio: Harpreet Bansal (India/Norway), Sanskriti Shrestha (Nepal/Norway) & Per Zanussi (Norway/Italy)
Creative Production Manager: Ali Williams (Wales)
Set - & Costume Design: Rhi Matthews (Wales)
Set - & Circus Rig Design: Tarn Aitken (England)
Light design: Leif LePage (France/Wales)
Assist choreography: Hanna Filomen Mjåvatn (Philippines/Norway) Assist circus skills: Mish Weaver (England)
Producers: Sverre Waage (Norway) & Ali Williams (Wales)
Funded by: Arts Council Norway, Arts Council Wales, FFLB, FFUK, Spenn, DTS/UD/stikk.no.
Supported by: PIT, Bærum Kulturhus, nofitstate, Pontio, Black E, Chora Chori Nepal, SAMPAD
“Bloody marvellous. Bloody great.”
“As a Tiger in The Jungle is a production that shines with an inner fire.”
“As a Tiger in The Jungle is likely to have an unforgettable life-long profound effect on you.”