Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti in residency at Espaço Alkantara

A lone whale called 52 Blue wanders the ocean, singing a song. A song accompanied by a ghostlike soundscape. How can life exist without the presence of the other, of another, of someone else?

Whales sing to survive, to mate, to travel, to pass the time, and also for no reason at all. 52 Blue, a “special” species of whale, calls at the frequency of 52 hertz, a pitch so high that no other whale can bear its company. As for human beings: what makes people distance themselves and find being with others unbearable? We know, don’t we? And singing… Do you only sing in the shower? Singing can be a cry for help. Relaxation. Lust.

This piece is performed by a body that dances and another body that makes music. In a solitary manner. They are the whale that could never live among us, because it doesn’t fit in that existence. It is inadequate. It’s a big whale, alone and blue, singing a song that cannot be heard.

It’s sad. It’s beautiful. It’s a song that makes us cry.

— Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti


52blue is a solo by Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti, scheduled to premiere in November, at Teatro do Bairro Alto, as part of the Alkantara Festival 2024. In July, it had its avant-premiere at the Santarcangelo Festival in Italy.

Every year, we produce a new performance by an emerging artist. After being presented during Alkantara Festival, we keep producing that show on tour, so it can reach more audiences and places.

Credits

Performed, created and directed by Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti Dramaturgy and direction assistance Piero Ramella External eye António Pocinho Rivotti Mentorship Ntando Cele and Nadia Beugré Lighting design and technical direction To be confirmed Music Gustavo Portela Video Gustavo Portela/Varanda Criativa Photography Jamille Queiroz Voice and movement work António Pocinho Rivotti Producer Sinara Suzin for Alkantara Produced by Alkantara Coproduced by Alkantara Supported by Alkantara, In Ex(ile) Lab - Creative Europe, Santarcangelo Festival/European Festivals Fund For Emerging Artists, La Caldera and Teatro da Voz/Real Pelágio Artistic residencies Fórum Dança, Alkantara, Teatro da Voz, Santarcagelo Dei Teatri, La Caldera, Porto Iracema das Artes and Companhia Anagoor/La Conigliera