Forest: The Nature of Crisis

A production by Constanza Macras DorkyPark in coproduction with Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Schauspiel Leipzig, euroscene Leipzig, and ProduZentren Baden-Würtemberg (E-Werke e.V. Freiburg, franz.K e.V. Reutlingen, Roxy gGmbH Ulm, Tanz- und Theaterwerkstatt e.V. Ludwigsburg, Tollhaus e.V. Karlsruhe).

Supported by the Capital Cultural Fund and the Governing Mayor of Berlin – Department for Cultural Affair.

Kindly supported by Berliner Forsten, Allianz Kulturstiftung, Stiftung Mercator, Rudolf-Augstein Stiftung and Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH.

DESCRIPTION

How do romantic concepts of life and nature linger on in the current German “Forest” ideology? In the past, concepts of the “Forest” always found expression in literature and culture as a reaction to a social sense of crisis. It could even be said that they established the political basis for the opposition – as with Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. In the current climate of economic crisis, which narratives are in demand in society and which are capable of assuming the role? The Nature of Crisis aims to explore the mythological and contemporary motives of change and concerns for the future. Constanza Macras’ international team bring their varied cultural and biographical points of view to bear on the performance as they lead the audience through the “German Forest”. In the enchanted forest, the audience also encounters real environmental activists and forest campaigners, who explain their philosophy of life. Constanza Macras addresses the mythological image of the “German Forest” and connects it to current socio-political and cultural developments. Confronted with the crisis of the global economy fairy tale, the show reviews the German Forest’s current power to transform and takes a look at the sustainability of mythological narratives. – Does the Myth of the (German) Forest comprise a potential for change for our society today?

(C) Thomas Aurin

REVIEWS

The three hour walk in the woods leads through a field of various topics. It broaches the issue of unleashed capitalism and untamed consumption, rubbish recycling and the „grüne Punkt“. „A civilisation is a culture which has a dump“, somebody says. Macras develops an educational furore, she unmasks the fairy-tales which are exposed to the consumers nowadays. (Tagesspiegel, 11.08.2013)

Now the audience sits close next to each other and secure in the idyllic beautiful forest, listening fascinated to the horror stories from the capitals. Macras developed some beautiful sceneries and assembled a wilfull crew, bizarre, fantastic characters. (Berliner Zeitung, 11.08.2013)

Whether  these are fairy-tale characters or real contemporaries who dance a disco grotesque is unclear, the boundaries are blurred long ago. Three hours come to an end, which amalgamate furious fairy tale scenes, comments on the economic crisis and the environmental consciousness. Your own fantasy can sprout while leading the way out of the forest ligthing the path with a torch in your hand. (Taz, 12.08.2013)

One can always in a sublte way read between the lines, that romantic longings still have a driving force today. The darkening forest supplies the scenery without Macras biting into it like a parasite and making this trip to a very successful business. (www.nachtkritk.de, 11.08.2013)

DATES

Premiere 10. August 2013, Müggelwald, 19.30 Uhr
Additional performances 12.–14. & 16.–19.8.2013

CAST & CREW

Choreography and director: Constanza Macras
Dramaturgy: Carmen Mehnert

From and with: Louis Becker, Emil Bordás, Ádám Horváth, László Horváth, Catriona James, Nile Koetting, Jelena Kuljic, Johanna Lemke, Kristina Lösche-Löwensen, Almut Lustig, Ana Mondini, Felix Saalmann, Miki Shoji

Guests: Sarah Bockers, Esteban Castro, Aris Chantzopoulos, Samantha Franchini, Martina Garbelli, Albert Garcia Sauri, Ina Gercke, Jolanda Löllmann, Uwe Preuss, Jefferson Preto, Luana Rossetti, Rodolfo P.P. da Silva

Music: Kristina Lösche-Löwensen, Almut Lustig, Jelena Kuljic

Technical director: Arvid Piasek
Light: Sergio de Carvalho Pessanha
Sound: Stephan Wöhrmann
Stage Design: Ruth Stringer
Costume Design: Allie Saunders
Assistant Costume Design: Magdalena Emmerig

Stage technician: Christian Knöller
Light technicians: Leroy Hawelky, Anne Hübschmann, Eduardo Abdala
Sound technician: Sebastian Braunreuther, Toni Bräutigam

Assistant Director: Felipe Amaya, Nikoletta Fischer
Trainee Director: Ana Roca, Pau Masalo
Assistant stage design: Chika Takabayashi, Juliette Collas
Trainee stage design: Andreina Vieira dos Santos, Nina de Ludemann
Trainee costume design: Florentine Helene Gerstenberg
Trainee sound: Angela Munoz, Christine Wünsch

Production: Katharina Wallisch
Production assistants: Josephine Reinisch, René Dombrowski, Joao Victor Toledo
Administration: Aminata Oelßner
Tour: Ricardo Frayha