Projekt: Marcin Jedliński, fot. Janusz Matuszewski.
On Thursday, 8 November, Theatre Nowy in Warsaw (Workshop hall, ul. Madalińskiego 10/16) hosts the premiere of Katastronauci,directed by Iga Gańczarczyk.The piece’s dramaturge is Bartosz Frąckowiak and the cast includes Dominika Knapik and Iza Szostak who created the choreography.
Katastronauci[Catastronauts] is a theatrical scientific fantasy inspired by Jon McKenzie’s book Perform or Else and Witold Lutosławski’s composing method, in particular his technique of “limited aleatorism”. It is a lecture–concert in which coincidence (accident, catastrophe) is both the theme and the working method (games, algorithms, patterns). It is a tale of challenges issued by a mysterious tribe of Catastronauts (Challengers) to the world and to one another. The tribe, distinctive for their infection with catastrophe, paradoxically keep on testing its limits, investigate its coordinates, play with its various forms. They make up a specific version of joyful science – “accidentology” – whose task it is to discover laws governing new forms of accidents occurring alongside new scientific innovations. Although they come from different eras and places, they have now been gathered onboard of the Challenger space shuttle, in a prolonging and bending moment of its launch, sometime between the year 1542 (Francisco de Orellana’s journey to Amazonia) and early 21st century. Their patron, and reference point – either open or covert – of all their thoughts and actions, is Witold Lutosławski and the method he developed. The tribe focuses their work on the principles of limited aleatorism, attempts to reduce it make it more radical, and incessant discussions about it. They surrender to coincidence, while trying to control it with the frameworks, plans and scripts they develop. They have their onboard rituals to celebrate difference and recurrence, receiving the sacraments of misrepresentation. In this ethno (science) fiction, the Challengers once again launch their identities in order not to disappear for good with the smoke cloud dispersing in the air.
Subsequent presentations on 9 and 10 November. On Saturday, a meeting with Jon McKenzie will be held at Theatre Nowy (5 pm).
A co-production of HOBO Art Foundation and Theatre Nowy
Premiere: 8 November 2013
Directed by Iga Gańczarczyk
Dramaturge: Bartosz Frąckowiak
Visual and musical installation: Anna Zaradny
Costumes: Grzegorz Matląg (Maldoror)
Cast: Lena Frankiewicz, Bartosz Gelner, Dominika Knapik, Piotr Polak, Iza Szostak, Marta Ścisłowicz, Anna Zaradny
Creative producer: Natalia Siwicka
Production coordinator: Magda Zielińska
Supported financially by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland under the programme “Lutosławski 2013 – Promesa” implemented by the Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw.
