From April to the end of May, two companies, the Valencian Bufoneta and the Colombian Circo Sombra, have shared a unique tent to bring Falso negativo to life. This piece addresses “the migratory issue from the solidarity of the circus perspective,” and was developed at the Alqueria d’Albors.
Combining circus and physical theatre, the play features Diego and Tumbo on stage, two characters forcibly displaced from their homes. Tumbo emigrates for economic reasons, while Diego is persecuted for being a street artist. Closely following these two protagonists, Circo Sombra and Bufoneta have united in Valencia to find a space to reflect on the world around them through performance.
Ana Sánchez, from the Bufoneta company, explains that Falso negativo has been a unique opportunity to unite “between companies and cultures.” “We unite under the idea of forced displacement and to address the topic of migration,” she stated. The collaboration has created a “creative and real family” to reflect on habitable spaces, linking Valencia with Colombia through art.
The three-month artistic residency has allowed for reflection on the spaces and the love dedicated to them, using a clowning tone to address the migration crisis with affection and humor, while acrobatics narrate their story. According to the creator, the play “reflects on what migration means on a personal level,” discussing balance and imbalance, and allowing themselves to make mistakes and learn about who they are.
This language, which combines text, acrobatics, and humor, is what the Valencian company Bufoneta has been developing since 2022. Their pieces incorporate “the poetry of mime, the irreverence of the jester, and the risk of the circus” to tackle diverse themes, from homoparental adoption to hearing impairment, including the migration narrative in Falso negativo.
On stage, Leonardo Díaz, Antonio Díaz, and Sánchez (a gestural actress, clown, and street artist) find a “poetic and transformative” space within the circus. With Circo Sombra, they use the Alqueria space to generate reflection, encounter, and freedom, uniting “territories, languages, and experiences.” The goal is to create a circus where both laughter and tears coexist, and where the audience, after the show, reflects on the meaning of returning to a place called home.
