A word is broken down into individual syllables. Or it becomes the chorus of a song about fragility itself. Because anyone who says the word “zerbrechlich“(fragile), is paying it special attention and lending it a particular beauty. With ZER-BRECH-LICH, the choreographer Alessandro Schiattarella has created a piece that tells of the diversity of bodies. The three disabled performers Victoria Antonova, Alice Giuliani and Laila White explore their own and other identities. They try out sounds and clothes – looking for the ultimate pop moment. On stage we witness a glamorous concert – or perhaps something else entirely?
The piece uses both dance and text, sounds and objects to demonstrate how engaging with one’s own fragility can also become a political statement, a vision of special awareness. It encourages new experiences: we know what something breaking sounds like. But what does something being protected from breaking sound like?
Direction, Choreography: Alessandro Schiattarella
Musical Direction: Richard Schwennicke
Performance: Alice Giuliani, Victoria Antonova, Laila White
Stage Design: Margarete Albinger
Dramaturgy: Martin Mutschler
Production Management: Terry Blühdorn
Audience Development: Matthias Brandt, Daniel Riedel
Songwriting: Gina Été
Costumes: Giulia Marcotullio
Photos: Clemens Heidrich
A co-production between Staatsoper Hannover, Schauspiel Hannover and Festival Theaterformen in co-operation with Theaterakademie Hamburg.
Funded through the Federal Cultural Foundation’s Jupiter programme. Funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.