Ephemeral Ensemble Presents The World Premiere Of OFFSTAGE

Using onstage and offstage as a metaphor for public and private lives, Ephemeral Ensemble take a look behind the curtain to private loneliness and depression in a sensitive and timely exploration of suicide. In a universe where theatre is life and life is a dream we find Harley and Pedro, two performers doing whatever they can to help each other through their show night after night. Offstage uses playful stagecraft, physical theatre and original music to capture the joys of the two performers when they're onstage and struggles when they're out of the spotlight.

Ephemeral Ensemble has been working closely with PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide), L.A.S (Life After Suicide) and David Mosse, Professor of Social Anthropology at SOAS. A recent report from the Samaritans states that suicide is the biggest killer of people under 35 in the UK.

Co-director Ramon Ayres says, "Unfortunately, it is still a taboo to talk about suicide. When we tell people what our show is about, people often have strange reactions, they seem not to be sure how to take it. On the other hand, we have had really close friends sharing for the first time how they have been affected by suicide, how unusual and liberating it feels to openly talk about it. It has been life-changing to work on this project and talk to people who have contemplated suicide and suffered alone and people who have gone through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to suicide - these people were the true inspiration to us."

Ephemeral Ensemble is an international physical theatre company founded in 2016 by Eyglo Belafonte from Iceland and Ramon Ayres from Brazil, making their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut. Combining the skilled physicality of the performers, playful stagecraft and original music, Ephemeral Ensemble strives to create original, sincere and ambitious work that is inspired by human stories. Corporeal mime technique is at the centre of their devising process.

Co-director Eyglo Belafonte studied contemporary dance at The Icelandic Dance Academy and graduated from The International School of Corporeal Mime in London. Eyglo performed at the National Theatre of Iceland and danced for the award-winning choreographer Helena Jonsdottir in The Rite of Spring. She worked with the international touring company Theatre de l'Ange Fou and toured with them in the U.S. Eyglo also works extensively with Theatre Re; Associate director for Fourth Monkey's graduating students and performing in their latest production The Nature of Forgetting, currently touring around the world.

Co-director and performer Ramon Ayres graduated in theatre from University of Sorocaba, Brazil, and The International School of Corporeal Mime. He was part of the theatre group Nativos Terra Rasgada for six years and later on he joined the international touring company Theatre de l'Ange Fou and toured with them in U.S. He co-directed the physical theatre piece The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall that went on to tour in the UK, Italy and India.

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