In the not-too-distant future, a giant, turtle-shaped starship lands on Earth. Nanabush, creator of Turtle Island, appears to remind us that the coming times will be critical for the survival of the human species. Indigenous peoples have been prophesying about this for a long, long time. What kind of future awaits us? If any exists at all?
Tsekan is part of a cycle of creation initiated in 2013, for recompose at the Phenomena Festival in Montreal. Divided into thirteen scenes, which mirror the thirteen moons in a year, the concept of time and space in Tsekan is inspired by the lunar cycle. The boundaries between past, present, and future are continually blurred.
Combining poetry, indigenous languages and technology, Tsekan offers a dream-like vision of what is at stake in today’s world. Projections skillfully overlaid on an ingenious set design reinforce the breadth of the performance, plunging the spectators into a timeless, often mysterious atmosphere. Enhanced by a lm-like soundtrack, spectators are taken on a voyage into the boundless time of the prophecy.
The project’s collaborators come from different indigenous nations and artistic practices. Together, they create a unique theatrical language immersed in technology, yet anchored in secular mythology.
