Can anything other than humour save us in our struggle for survival? After last year’s delightful performance Eins Zwei Drei, warmly received by the Peiraios 260 audience, Martin Zimmermann (Swiss Grand Award for the Performing Arts / Hans Reinhart Ring 2021) returns to the Athens Epidaurus Festival with his newest production, alongside his team of virtuoso performers. The equally hilarious Danse Macabre once again defies categorizations. In a scenery alluding to a deserted garbage dump, three tragicomic characters, three social outcasts, struggle to rebuild their lives. However, a strange figure hovers over this fragile community: the figure of Death, portrayed by Zimmermann himself, intervening in the plot as a mischievous puppet master pulling the strings of the characters’ bodies.
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PROLOGUE / PRE-SHOW TALKS
The successful collaboration launched in 2021 between the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the Postgraduate Studies Programme of the Department of Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, continues this year at the heart of Peiraios 260, building an invaluable bridge between theory and practice. Half an hour before our admission to the theatre venues, young theatre researchers will whet our appetite for the much-anticipated performances, hone our sensibility, and decipher the often challenging “codes” of contemporary performing arts.
*The Prologue initiative will take place before the start of international productions
Concept – Directing – Choreography Martin Zimmermann
Created with and performed by Tarek Halaby, Dimitri Jourde, Methinee Wongtrakoon, Martin Zimmermann
Musical creation Colin Vallon
Dramaturgy Sabine Geistlich
Set design Simeon Meier, Martin Zimmermann
Artistic collaboration Romain Guion
Stage development – Technical coordination Ingo Groher
Stage construction maisondelaculture de Bourges (Nicolas Bénard, Lucas Bussy, Jules Chavigny, Jean-Christophe David, Luc Renard, Joao De Sousa, Eric Vincent), Andy Hohl
Costume design Susanne Boner, Martin Zimmermann
Lighting design Sarah Büchel
Sound design Andy Neresheimer
Motorization decor Thierry Kaltenrieder
Costume constructionSusanne Boner
Painting Michèle Rebetez-Martin
Creation stage managers Roger Studer, Mateu Pascual Labourdette
Lighting direction Sarah Büchel, Jan Olieslagers
Sound direction Franck Bourgoin, Andy Neresheimer
Stage manager Roger Studer
Photography Nelly Rodriguez, Basil Stücheli
Graphic design Marietta Eugster
Administration – Distribution Alain Vuignier
International producer Claire Béjanin
Communication Manuela Schlumpf
Technical office Sarah Büchel, Ueli Kappeler
Accounting Conny Heeb
Production MZ Atelier
Co-production Fund of Reso – Dance Network Switzerland – supported by Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council, Kaserne Basel, Kurtheater Baden, Le Volcan, scène nationale du Havre, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, L’Odyssée — Périgueux, maisondelaculture de Bourges / scène nationale, Opéra Dijon, Theater- und Musikgesellschaft Zug, Théâtre de Carouge, Zürcher Theater Spektakel
With the support of BvC Stiftung, Elisabeth Weber Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fachausschuss Tanz & Theater BS / BL, Stiftung Corymbo
With special thanks to Leoné-Sophie Kündig, Daniel Kündig, Schauspielhaus Zürich
Final rehearsals at Kurtheater Baden
Premiere 19 August 2021 at Festival Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zurich
Martin Zimmermann is supported by a cooperative funding agreement with the Culture Department City of Zurich, Department of Culture Canton Zurich and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council. Associated Artist at maisondelaculture de Bourges / Scène Nationale and at Tanzhaus Zürich.
VIP 30€ • ZONE Α΄ 20€/ STUDENTS/ 65+/ ARTIST UNIONS 16€ • ZONE Β΄ 15€/ STUDENTS/ 65+/ ARTIST UNIONS 12€ • UNEMPLOYED/ ART SCHOOL STUDENTS 5€
Audiences who have purchased concessions must show supporting documents upon admission. Otherwise, admission will not be allowed.