Stage

In what looks like a large SEAT plant from the outside in Mataró, Antigua & Barbuda put together their machine manipulating shows. Named after the Caribbean islands – just because – the group’s space is any hardware junkie, mad scientist, musician or welder’s dream, filled with nuts and bolts, an RV on a platform, bongos, a catapult-esque chair, and so on.

Jordà Ferré, the head of the company, has a bookish boy meets auto technician look, complete with blackrimmed glasses and a red mechanic’s jumpsuit. He begins showing the group’s progress on their latest show, El Circo de las Penas, which is being co-produced by Oscar de Paz. “The machines will do the performing and talk about feelings,” explains Jordà, in a production solely featuring devices crafted by the company’s artisans. The first apparatus is a piano hooked up to a large wheel and hospital IV tubes and bottles. As the wheel spins, the piano keys are played and for each note, a drop of perfume trickles down, allowing the viewer to “smell the sound.” Past productions, like Tingalya, saw the group construct a Ferris wheel of toilets and for BARRA, they put together a 3-ton apparatus that looks like an antique diving boat outfitted with a bar. Look for the new show in late spring and if you’re a carpentry student looking to do practicals in a whimsical and creative environment, A&B is always looking for additional talent.

www.antiguaibarbuda.org