OFFICIAL PRESS TEXT (2016)

The theater of Zimmermann & de Perrot (Dimitri de Perrot / Martin Zimmermann, 2006-2017) is based on precise observation, humorous repetition, distortion, and the artistically accomplished transformation of everyday interactions, giving the little things in life a big platform. Using bodies, objects and music Zimmermann & de Perrot compose funny, unconventional theatre pieces within a changing scenography. At the centre of their work is the human being – with all ist human fragility and contradictions. Their characters are driven to make the impossible possible. They are very physical and possess a marvelous artisanry as peformers. Their wordless theater is full of absurd humor and a deep love of detail. Objects are living beings. People are things. It’s not always obvious what it’s about, so you are compelled to think in unaccustomed ways.

The magic world of the directing team Zimmermann & de Perrot has performed over the years in renowned theaters and festivals across Europe and around the world: Théâtre de la Ville Paris, Festival d‘Avignon, Barbican London, Sydney Opera House, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Grec Festival Barcelona, Schauspielhaus Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, Usine C Montréal, Hong Kong Cultural Center, De Singel Antwerpen, Greek Festival Athens, among others.

The two artists tour and create in a very intense rhythm; they have several shows on tour at the same time, performing in most of them. They are being talked about in the international press – magazines, journals and newspapers like the New York Times, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, El Pais, Libération, Les Inrockuptibles, ELLE, Télérama, The Guardian… In Le Nouvel Observateur Raphaël de Gubernatis celebrated their work as “poetic extravagance – dreamlike and acutely intelligent”. Thomas Hahn of the German magazine Ballettanz writes that every Zimmermann & de Perrot piece “breaks through all aesthetic boundaries, including the limits of tradition. Splendid!” Dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov invited Zimmermann & de Perrot to New York. He described their theater as follows: Zimmermann & de Perrot offer the whole package, extraordinary design concepts and brilliant performances. I was really impressed. They are real innovators in my view. Both of them are great, great masters.” And Rosita Boisseau of Le Monde says that just as the style of Pina Bausch became known as “Tanz-Theater”, a new term could be invented for Zimmermann & de Perrot: “Theater-Circus”.

Zimmermann & de Perrot have won several awards, including the Foundation Heinz Spoerli Award 2013, the Swiss Choreography Prize (2009), the Cultural Advancement Prize of Canton Zurich (2010), the Swiss Design Prize (2008, 2010 and 2011 in the category of set design), the Swiss Innovation Prize (2008), among other.

Their team – on and off stage – presently includes about 40 acrobats, dancers, actors, technicians and many others; they also run their own production company. Zimmermann & de Perrot are independent and are not bound to any institution.


CONTEXT
Zimmermann & de Perrot's theatre was a further development of what the trio Metzger/Zimmermann/de Perrot aka Trio MZdP had invented and distributed with their own production office since 1998 and until 2005. Here you can find more information about Metzger/Zimmermann/de Perrot aka Trio MZdP.

MAIN CREATIONS
Hans was Heiri
Chouf Ouchouf – mit der Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger
Öper Öpis
Gaff Aff
Janei
Hoi
Gopf