In the remote, apocalyptic desert landscape of New Zealand, three travelers encounter a mysterious woman and her child. What begins as both an exhausting and cheerful journey develops into an absurd but humorous night that tells a story of violence, isolation and emancipation. With »THE WATS« Berlin-based composer and musician Stepha Schweiger presents a new, genre-spanning music theater piece based on the short story The Woman at the Store by Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923). She translates Mansfield’s themes – the role of women, interpersonal relationships and our connection with nature – into a contemporary social context. Applying the musical methods of repetition and subtle, catchy variations, the music theatre addresses highly topical issues such as sexualised violence, climate catastrophe and the quest for self-determination.
Stepha Schweiger is an avant-garde composer, producer, pianist/keyboardist and singer/songwriter in the fields of New Music, Experimental Music, Free Jazz, Song, Indie-Pop, Minimal, Conceptual, Industrial, Natural Tuning and Spectral Music.
The performance on 03.10. will be followed by an artist talk with Theaterscoutings Berlin.
Cast: Stepha Schweiger (the Wind, Singer), Anke Retzlaff (Woman, Singer, Performer, Avatar), Ziv Frenkel (Child Else, Dancer, Avatar), Deborah Rawlings (Narrator, Performer, Avatar), Raphael Dwinger (Jo, Baritone, Performer) and Adam Goodwin (Hin, Double Bass Player, Avatar), Musical ensemble: LUX:NM-Silke Lange (accordion), Ruth Velten (saxophone), Florian Juncker (trombone) und Zoé Cartier (violoncello)
Concept, Composition, Direction and video content: Stepha Schweiger, Dramaturgy: Dag Lohde, Director’s assistant: Luca Anthony, Sound design: Florian Tippe, Stage background / Video: PFA-STUDIOS, electronic music arrangement: Pyrolator, Light design: Aslı Atasoy Öner, Make up & costume consulting: Sofie Röhrig, Drawing / support with props: Sofia Casas, Production management: Johanna Madden
