Compagnie Basinga (France)
Soka Tira Osoa
Making its US premiere at PS21, Soka Tira Osoa from French highwire troupe Cie Basinga is much more than a traditional tightrope walking act. This vibrant and breathtaking performance is a celebration of trust, connection, and balance—animated and energized by a live rock band.
Meaning “pulling the rope,” Soka Tira Osoa relies on audience members to help tighten the rigging of the wire. It puts everyone involved in the performance—riggers, wirewalkers, dancers, musicians, and audience members—in the center of the show, exploring the delicate tension that holds us all, and emphasizing the core belief that no one walks alone.
The performance features the internationally-renowned Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga—one of the few women tightrope walkers in the world—who has walked hundreds of meters across wires high above cities all over Europe.
Basinga will be in residence at PS21 throughout the week leading up to the performance, offering free tightrope walking workshops from Monday, August 25 through Thursday, August 28.
COMMONGROUND is PS21’s free festival of street theater and new circus, where renowned international companies explore the boundaries of what’s physically possible in participatory performances across the PS21 grounds.
Food and drink will be available all weekend long. Bring your whole family, and join in on the excitement as we close our summer season.
Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga, Tightrope artist and co-artistic director
Jan Naets, Technician/Rigger and co-artistic director
Adrien Amey, Musician
Mael Bongini, Technician/Rigger
Djeylaroz, Musician
Francois-Xavier Delaby, Sound Technician
Geoffrey Durcak, Sound Technician
Lovisa Elwerdotter, Singer
Gael Honegger, Technician/Rigger
Simon Pourque, Technician/Rigger
Mathilde Wahl, Production Manager
Camille Foucher, Touring Manager
Louisa Gesset-Hernandez, Costume Design
Deborah Benveniste, Stage Direction Collaboration
Production: Lila Bouguin-Villiers, Camille Foucher, Marie Faucher and Mathilde Wahl
Basinga is a French company gathered around the art of high-wire walking. Through research, teaching, sharing and through the production of high-quality participative shows, Basinga seeks to develop, expand, transmit and communicate this art which, better than any other, illustrates how our greatness is based on our weaknesses and our ability to combine them. What brings us together, makes us stronger.
Co-productions : Scènes et Cinés, scène conventionnée Art en territoire Istres / CIRCa PNC Auch Gers Occitanie / FURIES-Le PALC PNC Châlons-en-Champagne et le Théâtre de la Madeleine Troyes / l’Agora PNC Boulazac Aquitaine / La Verrerie PNC Alès et l’Oktopus, Sauve / Les Scènes Croisées de Lozère et le Rudeboy Crew, Les Ateliers Médicis, Clichy-sous-Bois / ARCHAOS PNC Méditerranée |Residency : Centre de Création Artistique et Technique NIL OBSTRAT / Scène nationale Carré-Colonnes
The Basinga company is supported for all its projects by the Ministry of Culture – DRAC Occitanie, by Gard Department, by the BNP Paribas Foundation, and by Occitanie en Scène.
This performance is possible thanks to lead support from the GKV Foundation; by Theatre & New Forms, a program of Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation; and the rest of our generous sponsors.
