MEM HALL

SAT 1615

SUN 1215

75 MINS

PG 16

R 95

Finally, after 3 long years, the wacky Belgian Gaëtan Schmid (The Dog’s Bollocks) is back with his brand new one man show Body Language. Sold out in Cape Town; sold out at the National Arts Festival, you’d better book this one asap to get a ticket!

“Your body talks and talks and talks and it doesn’t shut up! Ever. Unless you’re dead.” Hilarious and informative, Gaëtan will fascinate you with the hidden meanings behind your everyday gestures.

Underneath its irreverent and comical narrative, Body Language’s social message is of ever increasing importance: human interaction and communication.

Our entire societal system is based on communication. If we can improve the quality of our communication we will improve the quality of our society.

“ … a solo tour de force …” Sunday Times

Press clips

"... a solo tour de force ..." Sunday Times

"... visually feasting ..." Sunday Independent

"... manic ... crazy ..." Your Soapbox

"... strange ... psychotic ... " TONIGHT

"... hilarious rollercoaster ride ..." the writing studio

"... not for the faint-hearted ..." Encore Entertainment

"... make sure your cheeks are ready to be stretched into a smile for about an hour." Bizcommunity.com

"… Gaëtan Schmid ... an ... inimitable ..." Artslink

"... immaculate ..." Cue2011

"... and extremely humorous ..." WhatsoninCapeTown.com

"... fascinating performer." Thee Next 48hours

" ... and … big balls." Megan's Head

Reviews

Sunday Times

Read my goose bumps

May 8, 2011 1:35 AM | By Karen Rutter

Who would have thought the human body could be so funny? All those tics and twitches, the pumping muscles, that beating heart? But in Gaëtan Schmid's latest show, even the lowly goose bump gets the laughs. In his masterful hands, our body becomes a production, a stage on which many stories are played out - most of them hilarious.

It should be no surprise, really. Schmid's previous solo show, the award-winning Rumpsteak, took an equally innocent subject - cooking - and transformed it into the most astonishing mélange of sound and action. And even before that, audiences were being attuned to his innovative brand of theatre, his approach being physically and cerebrally delightful. The Belgian-born performer, who has lived in South Africa for the past 12 years, has become a firm local favourite.

Body Language, his new piece, explores the link between human gestures and how we communicate - in other words, what our bodies are saying when our mouths are silent. From a handshake to a hug, a grin to a grimace, the way we act with and react to each other is often taken for granted. But more often than not, these physical rituals and responses are based on a whole lot more than simply saying hi or bye. From the body's natural fight-or-flight design to more manufactured forms of expression, such as waving, Schmid steadily unpacks our ways of interacting in his inimitable style.

Armed with only a glass of water and a sweat towel, he commands his space with an energetic presence. The script combines childlike curiosity with a sophisticated sense of humour and is delivered at deadly speed. Beginning with that most elementary of human interactions, the greeting, and finishing where greetings often end up, in friendship, fighting or bedding one another,Body Language leads the audience on a merry dance through the minefields of communication. And while a lot of it is actually deadly serious, the presentation is joyous.

Body Language is a solo tour de force that tickles the tenets of interaction with tongue in cheek. As Schmid himself says, it's done "anthropologically, sociologically, biologically, psychologically, neurologically - but not too seriously".

the writing studio

Celebrating the art of storytelling and the craft of writing

Witty and illuminating Body Language

You might enter Gaëtan Schmidt's latest offering being yourself, totally unaware of how your actions, reactions and interactions affect the world around you, but you leave with a complete awareness, alert and totally in control of your Body Language (or the lack of it). Witty and illuminating, Schmid is a magnetic emotional archeologist; his natural sense of comedy and comedic sensibility are infectious and provokes raucous response from his attentive audience. He oozes charm, buckets full, and unzips questions at a rapid pace, downloading unique data from his peculiar and curious point of view. He speaks his mind honestly, and candidly shares his thoughts; his meticulous actions mimics obvious routines and rituals and transform the ordinary into sublime revelations. From handshakes and greetings, to flirting games and social communication, Schmidt astutely explores the world we live in and how we live life. He manipulates his audience like putty, taking you on a hilarious rollercoaster ride from start to finish. Body Language is entertainment with bite, offering an insightful evening of fun and laughter that will put your world through a blender and result in a smoothie you will want to share with friends who go through life hiding behind facades of false pretense and unnecessary fear. We are what we do, and our actions reflect who we are. Maybe now, with entertainers like Schmid, the world will indeed be a better place to share our humanity and laugh at ourselves with dignity and newfound admiration.

Reviewed on May 5, 2011 by Daniel Dercksen

Gaëtan Schmid

Gaëtan is a Belgian theatre artist currently living and working in Cape Town.

After studying directing and acting at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France he toured exciting new creations to festivals and theatres all over the world. Russia, Sweden, Romania, USA, Belgium, The Netherlands, England, Wales, Uganda, Andorra, Spain and Scotland.

Since arriving in South Africa 12 years ago – his wife (not wife then) told him to “come and have a look … couple of weeks max” – Gaëtan produces, creates, writes and performs his own excitingly original one-man-shows … well, most of them are his own:

Rumpsteak, The Dog’s Bollocks, The Incredible Beer Show, the pigeon and The Comical Tragedy. The latter 2 were directed by his wife Lara Bye, mother of their son Matteo (7) - collector of hotwheels and new Kung Fu aficionado.

Directed Alan Committee in “Clown Jewels I“ AND “Clown Jewels II”.