About
“Environmentalism without class struggle is gardening.” – Chico Mendes
On the banks of rivers flowing through Latin America, steel blades arrive to tear up the roots of communities. While territories are carved up by contracts inked in blood, floodwaters disappear homes and people.
Raging against the machinery of colonial capitalism, UPROOTED is a tropical-punk, ecofeminist, rallying cry inspired by the voices of displaced peoples and frontline environmental defenders.
Through fierce physicality, searing visuals, and bone-stirring music, award-winning Ephemeral Ensemble excavate unseen networks of oppression and resistance to sow the seeds of a future that is wilder, interconnected, and defiantly alive.
Quotes & Reviews
"It was beautiful, grief-soaked and harrowing in equal measure, and the stunning use of sound, puppets and movement left its mark long after its end"
REWIND in The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2024, The Guardian
The Company
Credits
Devised by The Company
Director - Ramon Ayres
Performers - Alex Paton, Eyglo Belafonte, Josephine Tremelling, Louise Wilcox and Vanessa Guevara
Lighting Design - Josephine Tremelling
Music and Sound Composition - Alex Paton
R&D Devisers - Andres Velasquez, Chloe Shyan Chua, Felipe Jara, Luiza Kessler and Paolo Zaccuri
Dramaturgy Assistance - Kirsty Housley and Almiro Andrade
Production Manager - Josephine Tremelling
Artistic Support - Teatro La Mascara
Research Support - Professor Alison Ribeiro de Menezes
Research Mentorship - Shirley Krenak, Mayra Mota
Community Collaborators - Un Rio Cauca Muchos Mundos, Sandra Morales from MISAK’s community, SV2G and Garifuna community members, Rios & Ciudades, Guardians del rio Pance, Consejo Comunitario Dos Aguas de Cascajal
Commissioned by New Diorama in a co-production with Ephemeral Ensemble. Originally developed on Complicité's Mudlarks International Residency, with additional support from Great Yarmouth, Lost Dog, Blue Elephant, and Theatre Deli.
Funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant
Company
Ephemeral Ensemble is a multi-award-winning, international physical theatre collective. They make unique work that smashes together raw physicality, electrifying original music and scorching visuals to craft a narrative that hits hard and sparks imagination. Inspired by fact-based stories, their work spotlights urgent social issues, and is created in collaboration with global communities to empower a narrative of care.
Their last show REWIND has been performed over 75 times in 3 continents – including a sell-out run at New Diorama Theatre. The show was one of The Guardian’s top 10 best theatre shows of 2024, received Summerhall’s Rewind Award 2023 (named after the show), a LUSTRUM Award for unforgettable work at Edfringe 2023, and was picked as one of the best shows at Edfringe 2023 by The Scotsman. It is currently being adapted to REWIND: Bosnia and Herzegovina, to pay tribute to the victims of the Bosnian Genocide. This is a collaboration with Remembering Srebrenica, multidisciplinary artist Katie Taylor and Professor Alison Ribeiro de Menezes.
Previous shows include Farewell and Thanks for All The Sheep (RADA MA Theatre Lab), OFFSTAGE (Edinburgh Fringe and Tristan Bates), and CARSICK (Pleasance).
www.ephemeralensemble.com
Insta: @ephemeral_ensemble | X: @EphemeralEns