BOTO Story of a Birth

About the show:

Children who grow up without a father are said in the myths of the Brazilian Amazon to have been conceived by the boto. According to legend, the boto-cor-de-rosa – the pink river dolphin – transforms on certain nights into a young man who dances and seduces, only to disappear at dawn, sometimes leaving a child behind. Drawing on this myth, Fred Raposo tells the story of his extraordinary birth in his autofictional piece. With clownish wit and a sharp eye, he weaves together personal memories and the colonial history of Brazil. A humorous two-man show, between myth and the social reality of where we come from.

Bio:

Fred Raposo is a Brazilian performer and clown working across the porous borders of theatre, dance, and physical comedy. Originally trained as a historian and later in Argentina, he remains interested in how notions of truth are constructed and contested. Recently graduated from DAS Theatre in Amsterdam, he has presented his work in Zurich and was awarded the International Bursary Award at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival.

At the core of his practice is the clown—a figure through which he explores the inseparability of comedy and tragedy, using laughter as a gateway to autofictional narratives. Based in Amsterdam, Fred creates performances that combine autobiography, myth, and documentary, exploring identity, adoption, and transcontinental histories while questioning how truth is shaped through the stories we construct on stage.

Credits:

Fred Raposo — Idea & Performance
Robin Plenio — Tech & Performance
Aukje Verhoog — Dramaturgy
Marjorie Boston — Coaching
Ariadna Rubio Leo — Physical Play Advisor
Lison Bellanger — Production
Julek Kreutzer — Choreography
Nahuel Cano — Lambada
Paloma Donnini — Costume Consultant
Juleta Zeta & Marina Maronce — Communication
Thomas Lenden — Photos