Bumba et la forêt enchantée

Open the doors of your imagination and let the parade of oxen pass by! In the family of crazy musical comedies, here is “Bumba and the Enchanted Forest.”

An original retelling of the oral tradition tale with the greatest aesthetic and social significance in all of Brazilian culture: the auto do boi, literally “the story of the ox.” A theme as old as time, where life and death coexist in a plot peppered with universal archetypes.

Idealized by Brazilian artist João Selva, this atypical project addresses the theme of ecology and the cycles of nature in the form of popular entertainment for children, somewhere between the tragicomic universe of commedia dell'arte and the evocative power of a carnival parade.

Drawing on the rich popular repertoire of northeastern Brazil, the artist strives to tell stories through movement and music in the manner of the troubadours of old, reviving a legend he has known since childhood. His performance borrows from the codes of happenings and street theater, with the use of giant traditional puppets designed especially for this show.

It is undoubtedly in the musical universe, both naive and exuberant, that the originality of this show for young audiences lies. Without falling into a folkloric vision of Brazilian music, the original soundtrack navigates between orchestral arrangements and jazz flourishes, bringing together the joy of Brazilian percussion and the intensity of amplified music in a single burst of energy. The result is a kind of tropical rock opera.

So let yourself be carried away by this hilarious musical tale that will take you on a journey to meet fascinating characters, ready to shake things up wherever they go! Join in the dance and discover the naive world of this burlesque and timeless fable.