Ke co co co – or the echo of the frogs – is a large-scale collective experiment.

Following research workshops, practical sessions and a wide-ranging call for participants, Ke co co co made its debut at Place Chanoine Boursier during the Invites de Villeurbanne festival. With 60 people on stage, four days of rehearsals for the final run-up at the Palais du Travail, and a challenge successfully met by the artistic team and all the participants. Photos and the aftermovie are coming soon! Xavier Garcia, an artist with ARFI, was among the audience and gave us an enthusiastic review of the performance:

“At ARFI there are lots of us, and not every production involves all the musicians. There are large ensembles (of 8 to 14 musicians) as well as duos and trios. The most recent production was by Melissa Acchiardi, who, together with Laura Tejeda, teamed up with four other artists: Ophélie Kern, Dorothée Ozen, Marion Grégori and Clémence Roger. On stage (in this case, right in the city centre), there were over 60 amateur performers, following four days of preparation. This is what’s known as a ‘participatory’ production… such a daunting challenge: to put together something coherent in just four days with highly motivated participants. A delightful success! Everyone was spot on in this highly original show. So well done, and well done again! I’d like to note in passing – as someone who’s something of a veteran in this collective – that I was present for ARFI’s first all-female production. Well, well, times are changing…"

Cast Mélissa Acchiardi (composition), Marion Grégori (choreography), Ophélie Kern (direction, theatre), Dorothée Ozen (dance, physicality), Clémence Roger (costumes), Laura Tejeda Martin (singing, vocal research), and 60 amateur performers.