The premise is simple: bring your plant!

Calathea, maranta, geranium, cactus, pothos, tradescantia, sansevieria, rosemary, monstera, zamioculcas, ficus, begonia, pachira, papyrus, rose bush, philodendron, dracaena, orchid, thyme, wax flower, bird of paradise, jujube, schlumbergera, yucca, basil, pilea, fenestraria, gasteria, fern, bromeliad, spurge, lavender, ivy, jasmine, spider plant, ponytail palm, staghorn, asparagus fern, croton, fittonia, guzmania, aloe, echeveria, poinsettia, lily, aspidistra, rosary vine, tillandsia, striped dracaena… Any plant is welcome to transform the Ateneu Candela reading area into a collaboratively created ephemeral jungle.

From the north of Portugal, the Teatro do Frio arts group is bringing a simple but powerful activity. The idea is to be separated for a few days from one of the plants in our homes so it can spend time with other plants from other balconies, kitchens, bedrooms and lounges in Terrassa. A place for a collection of different plant species to converge, each with whatever personal meaning we might attribute to them. After all, in this improvised jungle, every plant will be a small keyhole to spy on domestic intimacies.

The inclusion of living beings other than humans in theatre has been a concern for some time. Selva Coragem reminds us that vegetal theatricality is not a contemporary eccentricity, for it is something as common and deep-rooted as having a pothos on top of a cupboard. So-called indoor plants are like little puppet theatres in our homes, a display of the wild tropics where human laws falter before the implacable laws of nature. Easy to say!

The idea behind this piece is not so much to use our potted friends as an excuse to create a sound-and-plant show, which also features photosensitive speakers that, like plants, are driven by sunlight. Instead, the piece is an excuse to bring different people together and get them to put their trust in somebody else’s care, and to walk, sit or talk about plants, humans and ecosystems. A good excuse to exchange points view and be domesticated by our leafy pets. To get some love and to regain courage.