Inspired by Yo soy así, a penetrating film regarding the closing of a transvestite cabaret in Barcelona, Actress Vanessa Van Durme has collected a group of her transsexual and transvestite friends to explore a riveting set of circumstances…the life of a performer, the struggle of one’s true identity, the voyeuristic nature of our modern world. In a groundbreaking American premiere, directors Alain Platel and Frank Van Laecke present a story of the essential truths that can be found within illusion: Gardenia.

Based on the real experiences of the cast, this most intimate of tales goes deep into the turbulent lives of nine people: seven older individuals navigating the zone between masculine and feminine and a younger man and “real” woman. Each carries their own intriguing story, sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious. Gardenia intertwines dance and contemporary song to create a work that can be called unique in every sense of the word.

Gardenia made a profound impression on Peak Performances Executive Director Jedediah Wheeler. Read his take on the show in our Insite Blog.

Produced by les ballets C de la B. Co-produced by NTGent, La rose des vents (Villeneuve d’Ascq), TorinoDanza, Biennale de la danse de Lyon, Tanz im August (Berlin), Théâtre national de Chaillot (Paris), Brighton Festival, Centro Cultural Vila Flor Guimarães, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève, Festival d’Avignon.