PSYCHOSIS 4.48 -
SARAH KANE
I am not afraid of death. My biggest fear
is not to live my life.
The social dilemma, film, 2020
This interpretation of Sarah Kanes PSYCHOSIS 4.48 explores possible forces and conditions which are necessary to end up in that final state of depression. It is a performance about how normative systems and algorithms that surround us affect our lives, body and mind and what traces this influence leaves behind.
A human being decides to leave this hypocritical world of common assumptions - this psychotic state of mind. On the surface it is about individualised depression, psychosis and suicide. But in its essence it is rather about a very political case: A fight against hypocrisy and for meaning within systems that constantly demand positioning and identification from us.; but at the same time ,in a perverse way, do not create any space for it. A literal normalization to death. How do we want to deal with that?
FOTOS Robert van der Ree
In Christina Pfrötschner's PSYCHOSIS 4.48, depression/psychosis is not approached as a pathological subject, but palpably portrayed as a political issue, connecting it to the outside world. It is a look at our world of manipulation and lies. A fight against hypocrisy and for meaning within systems that constantly demand positionierung and identification from us as neoliberalists; but at the same time perversely create no space for it. She exhibits the question: how do any of us want to deal with it and thus ultimately: how do WE want to deal with it. In associative yet recognisable images, she exposes possible underlying mechanisms and theatrically opens a safe space to position yourself. She sets characters, in which the actor is allowed to take the freedom to question himself and the figure. This special form of stepping in and out creates a beautiful form of matter-of-factness , but one that never lacks an emotional connection and invites the audience to be brave - to dare to question as well. An important skill that is often difficult in the world outside. This invitation is further spun visually by a three-split audience arrangement, which literally represents the possibility of at least three different perspectives. There is not that one redeeming truth that everyone is looking for. Audience, player, musician and technique merge into a kaleidoscopic possibility space of origin and symptom, of desire and satisfaction.
Through its theatrical form that leaves behind psychological acting and anecdotalism,
an audience participation, not a literal interaction but an intensified attention of the viewer from his or her seat in a setting specially designed for it, her working manner, where working form and idea of a society for the time of rehearsals become one and which consist out of rigorous questioning within the team, her analytical gaze and radical way of staging, she is able to open up a space for contemplation, reflection that I have never seen in this way before. A theatre that does not postulate an opinion but celebrates a discovery together; trying to get us out of a comfortable consumption posture. As theatre-makers, as spectators, as human beings.
Through its theatrical form that leaves behind psychological acting and anecdotalism,
an audience participation, not a literal interaction but an intensified attention of the viewer from his or her seat in a setting specially designed for it, her working manner, where working form and idea of a society for the time of rehearsals become one and which consist out of rigorous questioning within the team, her analytical gaze and radical way of staging, she is able to open up a space for contemplation, reflection that I have never seen in this way before. A theatre that does not postulate an opinion but celebrates a discovery together; trying to get us out of a comfortable consumption posture. As theatre-makers, as spectators, as human beings.
CREDITS
ACTORS
CONCEPT & DIRECTION
MUSIC
COSTUM
LIGHT
STAGEDESIGN
DRAMATURGY
SOUND
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION
TECHNICAL OPERATION
Annabelle Hinam
Tommie Kinneging
Olivier van Klaarbergen
Remy Meeuwsen
Tijn Panis
Merel Staalstra
Christina Pfrötschner
Signe Do
Kevin Pieterse
Jasper Nijholt
Alex van den Akker
Nuno Blijboom
Kees Theunissen
Kees Theunissen
Gemma van Kruijsbergen
Dennis Schaffers and Martijn Smolders
Robert van der Ree