An Audience-Structure for: The Balcony

Extract

The Balcony opened at the Ruth Escobar Theatre in São Raulo, Brazil, on December 27, 1969; it was performed through 1971 and during most of 1972 and was seen by thousands of people. In this presentation of Jean Genet's play, which was directed by Victor Garcia and designed by Wladimir Pereira Cardoso, the theatre became the scenery itself—a sculpture inside of which the actors played, flying in the air.

Wladimir pereira Cardoso, 39, is a former student of Architecture and Fine Arts whose theatrical designs have won several national prizes (including one for The Monsters, directed by Jérôme Savary, who now leads The Grand Magic Circus). When Garcia arrived in Brazil to work for Ruth Escobar, he found Cardoso ready with sixteen sketches for the reformation of scenic space. They were deeply influenced by Walter Gropius’ conception of Total Theatre.