For the 7th time, the International DRAMA|TIK|ER|INNEN|FESTIVAL Graz, hosted by Schauspielhaus Graz and DRAMA FORUM of UniT, is taking place in Graz, Austria from 21–25 June 2023. The festival, launched the artistic director of Schauspielhaus Graz Iris Laufenberg and the festival partner Edith Draxl from uniT in 2016, is dedicated to supporting and promoting young, contemporary playwrights and theatre creatives.
In this year’s edition, theatre-makers will gather in Graz to discuss our departure ‘INTO THE OPEN’. We are called to leave behind our narrowness, even in our thinking, and to venture out into the open, where joie de vivre, joy and friendship give us strength and allow us to overcome all difficulties. Thus, it will not be bleak or destructive things that triumph but life.
To shape the future in a positive way, however, requires all our creativity. To leave familiar spaces of thought behind and set out on a new path, we need art that challenges us. We also need places of assembly that bring people back into conversation with each other and thus make it possible to overcome existing divisions. Theatre can contribute in part to changes like these and make new beginnings imaginable.
This year's Dramatiker|innenfestival brings many new texts on stage and testifies to the authors’ and theatre-makers’ belief in the future. Sure, it's not always easy, but giving up is not an option, either.
Part of the programme is the virtual reality film ‘Wunderland’ directed by renowned filmmaker Kurdwin Ayub as well as a panel discussion hosted by author and playwright Hannah Zufall. She will speak with Raphaela Bardutzky, Lisz Hirn, Ferdinand Schmalz and Margarete Affenzeller about endings (including in theatre texts).
Virtual Reality Film 'Wunderland'
Schauspielhaus Graz's new virtual reality film 'Wunderland' premiered at the Diagonale'23 film festival. In the film, director Kurdwin Ayub, who won the Best First Feature Award for 'Sonne' at the Berlinale 2022 (also the opening film of the Graz Diagonale 2022), takes us back to childhood by showing everyday life through the eyes of a young girl.
Synopsis:
While sitting in a “cave” with VR glasses and 3D sound headsets, you will experience how mum (Maresi Riegner) and dad (Valentin Postlmayr) take care of you.
They are many things—artists, hipsters, millennials—but they are not happy.
In the modern world, a woman does not always have to sacrifice her life and dreams for a child. In 'Wunderland', it is the dad whose career takes a break as he stays home caring for the child while the mum enjoys her success. The child comes first. His dreams are secondary, and quarrels are inevitable. A storm rages outside and it is not much more peaceful in the flat. Love and anger alternate until everything culminates in a nightmare. In the end, mum and dad stay together. Just as many parents stay together for far too long.
Director & Writer Kurdwin Ayub Cast Maresi Riegner, Valentin Postlmayr, Katharina Farnleitner, Hannah und Clara Farnleitner Casting Ulrike Putzer Camera & Editing Markus Zizenbacher Set, Sound & Sound Design, 3D Mix Elisabeth Frauscher Production Design Julia Libiseller Costume Design Carola Pizzini Production Management & Production Supervision Claudia Joldes Production Assistance Ivet Castelo Torres Assistant Production Designer Christoph Pock Illustrations Fabian Dankl 3D Animations Johann Scholz Set Photographer Alessio Maximilian Schoder Location Stefan Teuber VR Tent Installation Philipp Glanzner Dramaturgy Karla Mäder, Franziska Betz, Elisabeth Tropper
A production by Schauspielhaus Graz
Supported by Creative Europe Fund
First ACuTe production
