MARCO MARTINS

Provisional Figures crowns a two-year research process with the Portuguese community living in Great Yarmouth, and invites audiences to reflect on identity and migration issues in an urban context severely hit by the economic crisis and consequent social unrest.
Although relatively unknown in Portugal, the darkest years of the economic crisis (2009-2014) were the height of this migration boom, which saw the large food processing plants (turkeys and chickens) in this Norfolk area as its ultimate destination, an area particularly hard hit by unemployment. Taking advantage of the decline of this coastal town, once a preferred holiday resort for the British, plants in the region took the accommodation available in hotels and semi-abandoned caravan sites as an opportunity for housing their new workers.
After working closely in Great Yarmouth with nine inhabitants of various nationalities over several months, Marco Martins brings us a show based on the individual testimonials of those who personally experience this period of uncertainty and adjustment, exploring the contradictions of human behaviour and the nature of the relationships between men and other animals.

Marco Martins was born in Lisbon in 1972. He is a contemporary Portuguese artist whose work covers film, visual arts and theatre. His films have been presented in major international festivals. “Alice” won the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, along with many other international awards. His latest feature film, “São Jorge” [Saint George], was in competition at the Venice Film Festival. In 2007, he founded his theatre company Arena Ensemble, with Beatriz Batarda, having since regularly presented plays in the most important national venues.