THE WORK by Susanne Kennedy and Markus Selg, is a theatre installation that revolves around the life and work of an artist, staged as a retrospective. But THE WORK also explores the idea of working on one’s own life.
What does it mean to reflect on your own existence and creations while you are still alive?
At the center of the piece is Xenia, an artist lying on her deathbed while casting for one of her works. Suddenly, everything spirals out of control.
"She is not prepared to die, but it is not up to her, is it? She can prepare as much as she wants—it is still going to happen. It happened. It is happening right now. Anyway, who knows what’s on the other side? Maybe nothing. Maybe more of this. Which would mean we are already on the other side, right now. That would be terrifying. Heaven and Hell, everything, right here, right now. And the theatre keeps playing. And we keep playing our roles." — Susanne Kennedy
CREDITS
Concept
Susanne Kennedy, Markus Selg
Directing, Text
Susanne Kennedy
Stage Design
Markus Selg
Sound Design, Editing, Artistic Contribution
Richard Alexander
Video Design
Rodrik Biersteker, Markus Selg
Costume Design
Andra Dumitrascu
Lighting
Kevin Sock
Dramaturgy
Johanna Höhmann
Voice Over
Xenia, Xenia Child: Laurie Young
Art Critic: Damian Rebgetz
Therapist: Kate Strong
Teresa: Brigitte Cuvelier
An: Ibadet Ramadani
Marianne: Marie Rosa Tietjen
Assistant: Ann Göbel
Tom: Christian Persico
Mum: Neela Hetzel de Fonseka
Production
Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz