Tiago Rodrigues: By Heart
Performance
© Christophe Raynaud de Lage
In By Heart, writer, director, and performer Tiago Rodrigues transforms the act of learning a sonnet live into a theatrical meditation on memory, language, and collective experience. Rodrigues, the renowned Artistic Director of the Festival d’Avignon, is internationally celebrated for blending the personal and the political in his work.
By Heart begins with the assurance that everything will be “calm and normal.” But very quickly, that promise unfolds into a singular gesture, where everyday life transforms into a collective experience. On stage, ten volunteer audience members are invited by Tiago Rodrigues himself to learn a sonnet in real time — a simple act that becomes a ritual charged with meaning. Through personal anecdotes and literary references, the gesture becomes living memory.
Inspired by the intimate story of a grandmother who gradually loses her sight while clinging to her memories, By Heart explores memory as an act of resistance. In a world where words fade and stories disappear, the piece reminds us that memory is a fragile treasure, and that we are its guardians. Between emotion and simplicity, it opens a window onto the very essence of human connection.
Supported by Albertine Theater, a program of Villa Albertine & Albertine Foundation.
In partnership with
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 15,500 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.
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