No/opportunities for non/endless growth
A performance-oriented society forces never-ending production. Can we not only focus on economically profitable performance, but also look at other aspects of life, as well? The performance Cannibals has stirred up a topic that is extremely relevant at the moment.
The devised theatre performance Cannibals, inspired by Falk Richer’s book Unter Eis, was created as part of The FREE PROJECT. In it, five students explore the possible ways to create, and live, in a system that benefit us and that exhausts us. At the same time, it seems inevitable to submit to it, at least to some extent.
Infinitely energetic caricatures dressed in very formal “clerical” costumes were offering us ever new ways – products – to behave and “succeed” within the system. This was all taking place around a long dark coffee table. The table sometimes rotated, became a barricade, and eventually turned into a catwalk on which figures of salesmen promenaded, focusing their attention on us – the audience. Until that point, we had been more or less passive recipients, but at that moment we were made aware that the topic of the play concerned us, too. We became part of the performative selling of “success”. We found ourselves in a dialogue, but we had no possibility to respond.
“Studying is a drug, and who cares that I have been on cocaine for three years.” The self-ironizing, absurd, grotesque portrayal was driven by the student’s clear need to express their opinion on this topic.
Corresponding to the topic of the production was this day’s strike drawing attention to the dismal salary situation of university teachers (not only those working in the humanities and related fields). JAMU had joined the strike in solidarity before the start of the performance.
