‘One day, perhaps soon. One day, I shall pull up the anchor that keeps my ship away from the seas.' Henri Michaux, *Le Clown* In the late 1970s, as Italy faced the gradual closure of its psychiatric hospitals, Raymond Depardon photographed several asylums across the peninsula, focusing in particular on the final moments of the San Clemente asylum. It was in this hospital, on a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, that he took photographs which convey, better than ten scholarly theses, the everyday horror of such places. The subject matter resonates deeply with the TJ1 team and its artistic director, Patrick Masset. The result is *Manicomio* : a performance exploring the issue of confinement in today's world. It was created following encounters in places characterised by confinement, notably at Vivalia – the psychiatric hospital in Bertrix, the Val de Meuse care home in Givet (France), the Fédasil Centre in Poelkapelle (West Flanders) and the Athanor in Dave. Manicomio is a place where we observe those who do not quite fit within the norm, and where, despite everything, a form of collective presence is forged. Much like the company's previous production – the marvellous *Reclaim*, which was a huge hit at Le Poche at the start of last season – the poetic and delicate treatment of the subject could spark something akin to empathy in the audience. It seems to us that one leaves feeling more tender-hearted… As in *Reclaim*, each audience member will take from the performance whatever they wish to take, and not everyone will tell the same story : ‘It is not about art, nor about pure technique. It is about life, and therefore about finding a language for life.' Pina Bausch From 12 years old
Manicomio
Location: Rue de Vergnies, 25, 1050 Ixelles
