Bruce Marie is an experimental production by Duda Paiva Company in 2021. It takes a sarcastic and humorous approach to explore concepts, possibilities, and consequences of “transhumanism”.Humans hope to elevate their spirits, physical strength, capabilities, and talent with technologies, in order to over unwanted or unnecessary physical conditions. Muffin the monkey was implanted chips in a painful process. After the lab cleaner Bruce accidentally intrudes, though, the status quo is disrupted.
Viewers will follow Bruce to witness what’s in the mysterious transhumanism lab. As “characters” encounter and escape, they start to contemplate on issues around tech ethics. When technology is used to boost human capabilities, are humans still humans?Throughout the show, performing artist Duda Paiva solely plays/controls three characters: lab cleaner a.k.a. retired drag queen (Bruce/Marie), transhumanism experiment subject monkey (Muffin), and a lab dog that can live in the digital world (Dioginis).
Bruce Marie includes pointed conversations, sarcastic songs, and full choreography. With unique, flexible, and stretchy foam puppets, the artist demonstrates precise movement and skills to portray unity/tension between performer and puppets. Serious topics are cleverly designed into the story. The serious and tense lab atmosphere is figuratively recreated in the theater. Humorous and seemingly improvised lines ensure these topics are accessible to the audience
Direction and Conception｜Duda Paiva
Born in Brazil, Duda Paiva is a master puppet performer and dancer. He has received dance and performance training in Brazil, India, and Japan, and performed in multiple theater and film choreography companies, such as Paul Selwyn Norton, Itzik Galili, Ron Bunzl, and Karin Post.Paiva founded Duda Paiva Company in 2004, it is a contemporary dance troupe that uniquely combines dance and objects in performances. The company brings creativity into puppet productions. Built with flexible and malleable foams, these puppets are lively and closely aligned with
puppeteers.
As a pioneer to combine physical art and objects, Paiva insists that dance movement, object control, and voice are all crucial in his works. Through languages, performing artists have conversations with puppets. Two or more characters and puppets delivered by the same artist will have deeper connections with languages. Sets and storylines will flow more fluidly and poetically as a result. Paiva uses his wild imagination and sense of humor, gets inspirations from comedy, gaming, and animations, and creates refreshing, ironic, provocative, and witty productions.Paiva seamlessly integrates dance and puppetry. He also utilizes images, objects, and live music to
create his own styles. In 2000, he was nominated for dance awards in the Netherlands, and since
extended his performances worldwide. With his own company, he has received over 30 international awards as one of the most renowned performing artists worldwide.
Direction｜Neville Tranter
Tranter is a senior Australian puppeteer that specializes in life-size puppetry. In 1976, he founded Stuffed Puppet Theatre. He relocated to the Netherlands two years later, and started to Produce mesmerizing and emotional puppet
shows for adult viewers. His works often brutally and directly pierce into our minds, and uncover fears, dreams, and desires deep in our humanity. Molière and Schicklgruber alias Adolf Hitler are some of his award-winning works.
Sound Creation｜Wilco Alkema
Alkema is a composer, a sound designer for theater, films, gams, and art installations, as well as a programmer. He believes it is essential to highlight properties in various sounds. He is known for creative immersive soundscapes, and perfectly balancing between traditional and contemporary sound design. Alkema also utilizes all kinds of modern software and programming languages, such as Max/MSP and Supercollider, to enrich his works.
Scenery and Costumes Creation｜Tessa Verbei
Verbei studied theater design at Utrecht School of the Arts, and has produced sets and costumes for theater productions in various sizes. To her, every prop and accessory on stage are pieces to compete the production. Her design demonstrates creative dynamics in theater, and visualizes abstract ideas or concepts in front of the audience
Direction and Conception | Duda Paiva
Direction | Neville Tranter
Direction Assistant | Josje Eijkenboom
Dramaturgy | Kim Kooiman
Music Composition | Flip Noorman
Light Creation | Mark Verhoef
Sound Creation | Wilco Alkema
Scenery and Costumes Creation | Tessa Verbei
Technique | Daniel Patijn
Publicity | Mirte Droogers
Production | Marijana Mikolcic
Performing Artist | Duda Paiva
