A vivid dance exploration of global unrest, the production is the latest collaboration between Kuźmiński, one of Poland's leading contemporary choreographers, and Paul Bargetto, an American theater director and dramatist residing in Warsaw.
The piece explores the theme of human memory within the context of current global challenges. It navigates the experiences of refugees and others exiled from their perception of normality, invoking historical and cultural echoes from Pompeii to Chernobyl, and the artistic legacies from Zdzisław Beksiński to ancient Roman muralists, and delves into the current era's complexities.
Image courtesy of Maciej Kuźmiński Company. Photo: Philip Brunnader/Landestheater Linz
Memoryhouse is characterized by Kuźmiński's signature choreographic complexity, imposing physicality and a striking, sparse stage design, where the dancers, partially covered in clay, convey the tangible remnants of history's scars.
The dance is built around a diverse musical score, which spans ages and styles, from Max Richter and John Luther Adams, to Philip Glass and Frederic Chopin.
Recurring themes in Kuźmiński's work with Bargetto include war, loss, and remembrance, and are evident in this production, echoing their previous collaborations such as the acclaimed Every Minute Motherland.
This performance marks the seventh collaboration between Bargetto and Kuźmiński, highlighting a long-standing partnership that blends the worlds of theater and dance.
The choreography serves as a medium for exploring the body's biographical memory, embodying rituals, dreams, and visions as forms of resilience and expression.
Bargetto, in his note to the audience, invites attendees to view the performance as a labyrinthine journey.
"You are about to embark on a fascinating journey into a complex vision of human memory," Bargetto writes, likening his role to that of Ariadne providing a thread through a maze.
Memoryhouse is described by Bargetto as a dialogue between artists, where the human body acts as the script. The dramaturg underscores the importance of myth in revealing collective unconscious memories, positioning the ensemble of dancers as participants in a ritual that reflects the frequently contradictory nature of human life.
Image courtesy of Maciej Kuźmiński Company. Photo: Philip Brunnader/Landestheater Linz
Kuźmiński's creation draws from a profound sense of displacement and unease. "It felt as if we were sleeping on a volcano that suddenly erupted, waking us up to a world that has become foreign and unrecognizable," Kuźmiński reflected.
Scheduled to run through May, Memoryhouse promises an immersive experience for audiences at the Landestheater, offering a reflective journey through the echoes of history and the resilience of the human spirit.
With production direction by Polish-born Roma Janus, stage and costume design by Austria native Gabriela Neubauer, sound design by Basque Spanish dancer and musician Hodei Iriarte Kaperotxipi and an international troupe of dancers, the cast and crew themselves serve as a microcosm of a global community.
For tickets and further details on Memoryhouse and the TANZ LINZ season, visit the Landestheater Linz website at landestheater-linz.at.
(rt/gs)
Sources: instytutpolski.pl, maciejkuzminski.com