Swimming through the sky, yet down to earth

An actor performs during the Brutal Force show. Photo provided to China Daily

Video: Brutal Force

The concept for the show, which is called Fuerza Bruta in Spanish, started with a girl walking in water above the crowd. The other scenes evolved over the following three years.

James, a theater school dropout who later took acting classes, believes theater is born from street art. He often participates in carnivals in his native Buenos Aires.

"I love the mixture (in carnivals)," he says.

"I love the atmosphere. The artist has to do everything to attract the passersby's attention, and the viewers can enjoy his show in an unseen space. I want to bring that atmosphere into my show. It's the same spirit of celebration and craziness."

James says he set out to create shows that appeal to all social classes in the way street art does.

"It is a sharing experience," he says.

"The audiences are part of the show. You can move around, get involved in the action, hear and touch. We want you to do it."

According to the director, both shows have toured the globe and have been performed for millions.

"The audience reactions from different countries are very familiar — celebration," James says.

"Because the audiences have different cultural backgrounds, they have their own understanding of the show. We don't have to explain it through words."

He enjoys bringing the show to places with different cultures than his.

"For example, we love to hug and kiss each other, which is very physical. It is Argentinean, but it's different from Chinese culture," he says.

"But the show brings people together despite their cultures."

If You Go:

Tues-Sun, until Sept 21.

Outside the west gate of Beijing Workers' Gymnasium, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang district, Beijing.

400-610-3721.