Les Grandes Personnes

Monique and Jeannot - Madagascar

Christine Schultz-Touge — 2018-05-19T13:51:05Z

Association Zolobe
6 rue Imhaus, Diego/S 201 Madagascar
Tel: 032 04 931 81/ 032 02 358 15
dupont-helene at blueline.mg
http://www.cyber-diego.com/zolobe.html

La compagnie Zolobe de Diego Suarez presents Monique and Jeannot :

In May 2008, during the 2nd edition of the Zegny'zo festival, thanks to our encounter with Laurent Dupuy who put us in contact with the company Les Grandes Personnes, they came tumbling in among the ZOLOBE (pronounced Zulubé) in Diego Suarez, Madagascar, our home.
Note that the Cie Zolobe has been “making” bush theatre since 2002 and organised the Zegny'zo festival, the first Street Arts festival in Madagascar, in 2007.

This meeting was born from the generosity and sprit of adventure brought by the company, Les Grandes Personnes of Aubervilliers and a “play on words”…
In fact, en Malagasy, “OLO BE” (pronounced ulu bé) means “Big person”, “Adult”… the Z adds a “zulu” side, a childish “boo-boo” cry to the overly serious adult.
The Z'adults meet the giant puppets and voilà!
We knew we had some things in common…

Photo © Pierrot Men - Diego Suarez 2010

Monique, whose shapely body was created by our favourite metalworker in Diego Suarez (Mr Manitra, an awesome and talented engineer) thanks to plans provided by Sarah and Clodmô, whose face is the spitting image of our magnificent actress (Armandine, sadly exiled today), whose makeup was done by a wonderful painter, (the fantastic Yasmine de Tana), whose costume bears the signature of a great couturier (the famous Mme Isabelle), … came to life … and received a soul and a story thanks to the Zolobe company, accustomed to inventing stories.

In short, in an absolutely beautiful collective production, Monique became the star of the streets of the port city of Diego, and this in spite of the competition, since there are so many beautiful girls in our city…

After having roamed the city neighbourhoods with the Zolobe company in search of a husband worthy of her, she finally found love.

Indeed, in 2009, she met Jeannot, at Réunion Island during the Tempo festival at St Leu.

He is good-looking and it was inevitable that should they fall head over heels for one another. The wedding took place in Diego. Photos to prove it!

Monique et Jeannot toured with the Zolobe actors for their performances all year long: they travelled from Nosy be to Tsihombe (extreme south of Mada).

Photo : © Pierrot Men - Parade en 2010 à Diego

On the 1st of April 2010, Jao Zo, their son, came to life…
Pierrot Men, the famous photographer, captured the event on paper in May 2010.
The festival Zegny'zo 2010 was then dedicated to childhood.

Unfortunately, to this date the child, Jao Zo, is not yet registered at city hall…
What's behind this forgetfulness, this delay ????
In 2018, what has become of this child ??? Is Jao Zo really the son of Jeannot ? Could a South African football player met in Reunion be the boy's father ????
The Cie Zolobe is the bearer of this saga which has the whole town talking…

A family reunion is called for!! Good timing. Zegny'zo will be 8 years old in April and the festival in Diego is in May.

La Compagnie des Sept Lieux - Belgium

Christine Schultz-Touge — 2018-05-19T13:49:30Z

La Compagnie des Sept Lieux
La Louvière, Belgium
Internet site: http://www.decrocherlalune.eu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacompagniedesseptlieux/

La Compagnie des Sept Lieux

Born in La Louvière, Belgium during the 6th edition of the urban opera Décrocher la lune, in partnership with Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture, La Compagnie des Sept Lieux can participate in parades with up to seven giants, who are light and mobile enough to dance without restraint.

Why seven? The city of La Louvière is twinned with seven cities in Europe. In 2015, it invited three citizens of each twin city to a three-week participatory workshop during which they built a character representative of their region in the shape of a giant puppet. Seven places, seven friendly cities that said “Yes I want to” for a crazy project!

The workshop organised by the French Grandes Personnes collective, enabled the encounter of people from La Louvière with citizens coming from Poland, Italy and France, all working towards the same goal: to create seven giants for the show.

The puppets took shape in turn: Rosina (Roseto - Italy), Ferdinand de Marne (Saint-Maur-des-Fossés - France), Ma (Pineto - Italy), Toto (Aragona - Sicily), Léonie (Eguisheim - France), Lucien Fédéric (Kalisz - Poland) and Astolfo (Foligno - Italy) who made their first appearance in Décrocher la lune 2015, alongside Sancho, the giant from La Louvière.

La Compagnie des Sept Lieux continues the adventure with some twenty manipulators, repairers and costume makers from La Louvière, and intends to travel across Belgium, but also to venture beyond its borders.

With the participation of:
• Yvonne Carpentier
• Stéphanie Vanbavinckhove
• Pistone Marie-Christine
• Kisiela Stéphanie
• Manu Vanbavinckhove
• Stéphanie Vander Meiren
• Gladys Verfaille
• Dominique Brimant
• Franky Thys
• Francesco Lombardo
• Nadine Bayeul
• Emilie Parmentier
• Marie-Line Dhyne
• Laetitia Vanbavinckhove
• Jean-Paul Godart
• Frédéric Bomal
• Ruddy Van der Veken
• Juan Perez Montes
• Joïs Michez
• Eliseu Verbecelte
• Corinne Compère
• Mauro Silvestri
• Salvatore Vullo
• Leonardo Cacciatore
• Camilla Torrieri
• Vincenzo Licata
• Stefano Faccini
• Giorgia Pigliacelli
• Emmanuele Bastianini
• Paolo Della Loggia
• Camille Teillier
• Floriana Lattanzi
• Antonietta Lattanzi
• Pawel Hejna
• Lucyna Stasik
• Natalia Urszula Jozwiak
• Stefano Emili
• Paul Zimmerman
• Clément Umbdenstock
• Marie-Claire Umbdenstock
• Diego Coppia
• Sophie Callens
• Robert Kempenière
• Yohan Douillez
• Manon Catoire
• Bernard Demoustier
• Christelle Collassin

Project coordination:
• Catherine Paradis

Leading the 2015 workshops:
• Fleur Marie Fuentes
• Patricio Luengo
• Maurizio Moretti
• Yabako Konaté
• Raphaele Trugnan
• Christophe Evette
• Cedric Lasnes
• Matisse Wessels
• Claude Maurice Baille
• Yoan Cottet
• Sarah Letouzey

The Giants of Tuléar - Madagascar

Christine Schultz-Touge — 2018-05-19T13:45:16Z

ONG Bel Avenir
C/O Cinéma Tropic
Boulevard Gallieni
TULEAR 601 – MADAGASCAR
Tel: (00 261 20) 94 438 42
Email: belavenir at wanadoo.mg
www.http://ongbelavenir.org

In January 2015, young people from the Art and Music Centre of the NGO Bel Avenir of Tuléar attended a training course on the manipulation and fabrication of giant puppets, led by Fleur Marie Fuentes, Nicolas Vuillier, and Christophe Evette, three puppeteers from Les Grandes Personnes association.

The NGO Bel Avenir encourages development through education. Active in several cities of southern Madagascar, it intervenes in various fields, especially in cultural and environmental education.

This workshop, which was held at the Art & Music Centre, the former Tropic de Tuléar cinema, reached some thirty young adults. It made it possible to recycle discarded cartons, old newspapers and used bottles. The three giant puppets and masks that were made have since joined the artistic groups of the centre. This new group dubbed “The Giants of Tuléar”, is composed of old Rakoto, the great Hanta and the little Nirina.

With the participation of:
Andry Henrimine
Randrianasolo Nelson Cédric
Abdalah Rabenasolo
Andriamanalina Onja
Arsene Tseleha
Arson Tolojanahary Lahiniriko Mariella
Christelline Fanampitsoa
Dauphin Laury Ramanahendry
Didier Ignace Andrianony
Didier Loïc Razafimandimby Désiré
Dina Toky Andriamparany
Florette Tokiniaina
Franciah Nomenjanahary Marie Jennie
François Heriniaina Nomenjanahary
Gaetan Randrianantenaina
Gayara Angelo
Georgiah Mahasaro
Hasina Velosoa
Honoré Ravelo Jean Marie
Hortence Renorovelo
Joelline
Jonathan Richard Andric
Lalaniaina Anastasie Rochie
Lucienne Velosoa
Odilon Rebika Kababalahy Gilbert
Ornella Fidizafinandrasana Marcelline
Parfait Edward
Raherimanana André Patrick
Ramilamanana Tsilavina Rody
Randrianasolo Copy Bernard
Sandrine Dauphine Harivololona
Sofintsoa
Stephanie Natolonjanahary
Vonjisoa Jean de Dieu Flavien
Sandra Edwige
Rasoanirina Cecilia
Tahinjanahary Marovavy Tahina
Zafindremanao Say Cynthia
Randriamasinotiavina Rija

Project coordination:
Nantenaina Razafinjohany

Philani Puppet's Road Show - Swaziland

Jean-Baptiste — 2018-01-21T11:47:29Z

Contact: PHILANI SUPPORT GROUP
PO BOX 432 PIGGS PEAK
Swaziland
Phone: 00 268 4371921

Coordination: Becky Dlamini
00 268 76356986

GIANT PUPPETS IN SWAZILAND

In collaboration with French association "Les Grandes Personnes", a workshop has been financed by Designing Hope to train volunteers from PHILANI's support group in the making of giant puppets to be used in HIV AIDS awareness plays in rural areas.

A CREATIVE WORKSHOP & OUTREACH AWARENESS PROGRAM

Designing Hope financed in October 2010 a 5 weeks training directed by Fleur Marie Fuentes from French NGO "Les Grandes Personnes".

The aim was to train volunteers from Phinani support group
in the making of giant pupets to be convay Design hope's messages in HIV AIDS awareness plays in rural areas.
20 volunteers took part to this training, according to their availibility, skills.

Doctor Thembo's advices, a collection of 3 awareness comics edited in 2010 by Designing Hope, have been used as an inspiration source fro the characters of the puppets and scenarios of the plays.

After a first step of sketches and scale models, 4 giants puppets, and several accessories have been entirely built by the members of the group, using recycling materials such as plastic bottles, newspapers (for papier maché covering faces) and PVC tubes...

Costumes were also sewn by women from the support group who received a specific training in July 2010 (cf School uniform sewing project).

SETTING UP A SHOW WITH THE GIANT PUPPETS

Scenarios were created following the objectives of prevention campaigns led with the Red Cross: testing, use of the condoms, the role of the traditional doctors and the consellors.

Besides the learning of the manipulation of the huge puppets, the members of the group had of to learn their role in the play, and comply with rehearsals, what was an unusual exercise for them.

Each role has been learned by two different people in order to have more versatility during the tour of the show.

AN UNFORGETTABLE PERORMANCE IN PIGGS PEAK

At the end of the training, a parade of puppets and a first performance of the giant puppets was given in the center of Piggs Peak.

This was perceived as an exceptional event for the most of people. The show has been performed several times on the 1st december for the world AIDS day, at PiggsPeak's Prison and also for the youth audience, on occasion of events organised by the municipality.

The show is now also performed during the outreach sessions in Piggs Peak district.

NEW SKILLS

This workshop allowed to train new persons to new techniques: molding, paper 'mache', sculpture and painting, practise some sewing, construction of mechanisms for the manipulation of puppets...

Moreover, it is also a source of income for the group that is asked to do shows at various events.

A NEW CREATION
In may 2016, Fleur Marie Fuentes came back and created a new show, Bright Future, about unwanted pregnancies

This project was realized with the NGO "Dessine l'espoir" and carried out by the "Philane Support Group"
_

Ratsekga production – South Africa

Christine Schultz-Touge — 2018-01-16T18:55:49Z

Ratsekga Production
6095 ext3
Johannesburg

(+27) 7 63 80 75 49
Facebook

A South African team made up of long-time friends of Les Grandes Personnes, for the most part coming from the Orange Farm (Gauteng province) and Mofolo, a Soweto neighbourhood, has reassembled a troupe of street performers and giant puppets called Ratskega Production. Many of its members participated in the adventures of SA G.U.R.U in 2008, in Giant Match, at Johannesburg and elsewhere in 2010, and some of them in the creation of the show Ancestors at Grahamstown in 2012. They form a versatile and talented team of puppeteers, dancers and musicians, set up by Adam Kgang, Mlungisi Mzingi, Sipho Methula, Isaac Sithole, Malibongwe Radebe and Peter Tobias.

Les Grandes Personnes of Africa - Burkina Faso

Christine Schultz-Touge — 2018-01-16T18:55:45Z

Les Grande Personnes of Africa,
Puppets of Boromo
BP 505 BOROMO BURKINA FASO
Tel : 00 226 76 58 86 86 (M. Drissa Zongo, secretary)
Email Addresses:
lesgrandespersonnesdeboromo at yahoo.fr
lgpboromo at lesgrandespersonnes.com
www.lesgrandespersonnesdafrique.com
Facebook

L'équipe des Grandes Personnes de Boromo - 2016

The birth of giants

Among the some twenty “cousin” companies, Les Grandes Personnes of Aubervilliers, Les Grandes Personnes of Africa – Puppets of Boromo is the oldest and the one with which the ties are the closest.
Starting in 2001, after coming into contact with the team from Aubervilliers, the artists and artisans of the town of Boromo in Burkina Faso, being familiar with masks and traditional ceremonies, were enthusiastic about the giant puppets and street theatre. Griots, seamstresses, dancers, sculptors, blacksmiths, painters and farmers formed an association in 2003, after the great parade The River that had brought together over two hundred participants.
.

Photo : Mélaine Lefront

Boromo - Photo : Mélaine Lefront

National and international tours

Soon, the group included some thirty people who made their own giant puppets and performed in parades, first of all in West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Gabon, and South Africa, then, in spite of administrative stumbling blocks, in European festivals, Titirimundi in Segovia, Les Invites de Villeurbanne, La Ronde des Géants in Steenvoorde, Mimos in Perigueux, the Eurockéennes de Belfort. The singer “M” invited them to join him on stage.
Les Grandes Personnes of Africa have often performed at the opening of Fespaco or for other Burkina Faso events and since its beginnings have supported the street theatre festival Rendez-vous chez nous.
Their dance performances to the rhythm of the balafon and djembe always stir enthusiasm and have been talked about in several articles in the French press (Libération, etc.)

An extract of the film Dans la cour des marionnettistes, by Christian Lajoumard.

Boromo, a welcoming place of creation

Like the region of its origin, the company is rich with the extremely varied traditions of the Mossi, Bwaba, Winyé (Ko), Dafi, Peul, Nounouma and Dagari-Dioula. Its giant puppets are made from local or salvaged materials such as banco (unbaked clay), calabashes, cement bags, empty bottles, millet porridge, wickerwork and baskets, iron bars, cut-up inner tubes, loincloths, cotton flowers.
Les Grandes Personnes of Africa possess the first site devoted to street theatre in Burkina Faso. Their courtyard, mentioned by several tourist guides, contains a creation centre where giant puppets are fabricated. All of the buildings, with the exception of a hangar for the puppets, are examples of traditional architecture. Walls and vaults are built with unbaked earth to ensure coolness during the day and warmth at night. Equipped with ten bedrooms and lavatories, the premises can welcome artists in residence for the time of a creation.

Aux Eurockéennes de Belfort

Creation, transmission

In addition to the parades, Les Grandes Personnes of Africa have have created several shows, often with those of Aubervilliers, Wambi, (2011), Déroutes-Première escale, directed by Évelyne Fagnen (2011), Bona Kele (2014), Les Tabliers du couchant (2016).
In 2013, the association received the Prix International of the APF (Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie). In recent years, it has contributed to training for the fabrication of giant puppets by South Africans for the Giant Match and the Malian company Nama, and its creations have been imitated in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire.

Photo : Hannah Paton - 2011

Giant Match - South Africa

Jean-Baptiste — 2018-01-16T18:55:42Z

Contact:
Isaac Sithole
0027 (0) 76 380 75 49
budafaso at gmail.com
www.giantmatch.org.za

Initiated in the context of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, The Giant Match project involved over one hundred South African actors, musicians, dancers, puppeteers, visual artists and craftsmen from various communities in Gauteng as well as artists from Les Grandes Personnes. For over five weeks in Johannesburg, the artists worked on the creation of 30 giant puppets, characters and objects which would fit in a show reflecting the multicultural South Africa. The original idea of this project was based on the successful collaboration between Les Grandes Personnes and the Gauteng-based collective SA G.U.R.U. which gave birth to four giant puppets and two characters in 2008.

The Giant Match is a new and unique show based on Romeo & Juliet; it tells the story of two young lovers, Bogale and Thobile, kept apart by the feud between their two families, the Mkhize and the Majakathata, culminating in an epic and comic football match, before the two parties are reconciled and the couple happily wed.

Between 11 June and 16 July 2010, the giant puppets embarked on a road-trip in South Africa in the context of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Following this successful tour, the puppets and their crew performed an extract of their show in Kigali, Rwanda.

Thrilled by their touring experience, the artists have decided to continue the adventure and in October 2010 have created their own association The Giant Match Association.

The Giant Match was initiated and supported by the French Institute of South Africa, the Gauteng Provincial Government and Les Grandes Personnes, with further backing from the Embassy of France in South Africa, the Ile-de-France Provincial Government, Culturesfrance, TV5 Monde, the Wits School of Arts and Danone.