Stateless
Boscombe-based dance circus company, Joli Vyann, is performing a 2023 reimagining of Stateless upstairs at Bournemouth Foodbank for BEAF 2023.
Shows will be taking place on Friday 23 June and Saturday 24 June at 7pm. All proceeds from Stateless ticket sales will be donated to Bournemouth Foodbank.
We caught up with Joli Vyann co-founders, Olivia Quayle and Jan Patzke, to find out more about the inspiration for Stateless, the power of stories and why it’s a dance circus performance like no other.
Tell us a little about Joli Vyann
Olivia: Joli Vyann is a contemporary company, blending contemporary dance and contemporary circus. I started out as a dancer and Jan was a circus artist, and we amalgamated our skills to tell stories and address current themes we’re passionate about.
We have a lot of expertise in circus and dance, so we have the ability to tell a story with a lot of power and a lot of skill. We want to take people on a journey with us and make them really feel something.
What first inspired Stateless?
Jan: I grew up very close to the border between East and West Germany. This border was on a river, but the bridge across had been destroyed in the Second World War and never rebuilt. It was a strong image to grow up next to. I knew I couldn’t travel over there.
At the same time, there were a lot of people trying to cross over from East Germany. They would try to swim the river, which was very dangerous. A lot of people drowned in the river. So very early on, I learned about this idea that people tried to cross borders at the risk of their life.
Over the years, I’d see more and more news about refugees doing similar perilous journeys. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea or crossing the Channel. It made me think things really haven’t changed that much. So I was very interested in exploring this idea further.
Image: Joli Vyann performing Stateless for BEAF 2023 © Gigi Giannella.
Stateless starts with a bridge in pieces…
Jan: Yes, in ruins, which is then rebuilt throughout the show. We wanted it to be more about the journey and the experience of it. Looking at why people would embark on this perilous journey in the first place.
You’re reimagining Stateless for BEAF 2023. What’s changed?
Jan: We’ve worked with more local refugee groups for this one. [Members of BEAF Arts Co’s Seeking Refuge project]. We were keen to tell their stories. New developments include what it’s like for refugees to arrive and what the new life might look for them. We noticed there’s a big discussion about how refugees are housed or where they are housed, so we were really keen on talking about that.
Olivia: And because we’ve been working with these new stories, the show really feels quite completely different. We didn’t want to just place their stories over a current show, we had to rework it.
Stateless 2023 is more about the feeling that we’re living in a climate where anyone could be a refugee at any point. It’s a global crisis and it affects everybody.
Image credit: Gigi Giannella
For those that have never seen a dance performance live, what can audiences expect?
Jan: For both shows we will have our live musician, Nao Masuda. She’s amazing. She plays big Taiko drums… she has incredible stage presence.
Olivia: Our particular style is quite theatrical, so it’s very accessible and engaging. This material is also mixed in with some high dynamic circus tricks, wrapped up in storytelling. Hopefully people will be able to relate to the characters on stage and to be able to go on a journey with us.
Tickets for Stateless at BEAF 2023 are on sale now. All proceeds go directly to Bournemouth Foodbank.
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BEAF 2023 is set to be the biggest independent arts festival in Bournemouth. The central theme is Unheard Voices. BEAF 2023 is a 10-day celebration of local, national and international artistic talent taking place from 16-25 June. View the full festival programme.
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For more information about Bournemouth Foodbank, or to donate directly, visit Bournemouth.foodbank.org.uk and @BournemouthFoodBank
