Photograph: Marcella Ruiz Cruz
Wasn’t technology itself, I thought, a strategy for disembodiment?
Wasn’t it all— Internet, air travel, the invention of the wheel—an ancient yearning
to be out of ourselves, out of our bodies, our location in space and time?
To Be a Machine, Mark O’Connell
After premiering To Be a Machine (Version 1.0) in Dublin in September 2020, Die Maschine in Mir is the German language premiere, created in partnership with Burgtheater, Vienna, featuring Michael Maertens.
In the midst of a lockdown in Vienna, where bodies have become biohazards, Die Maschine in Mir offered a new way of thinking about what it means to be an audience. On New Year’s Eve 2020, the theatre was used to hold a wake for the very idea of congregating together in a room, and a meditation on our attempt to solve the modest problem of death.
Premiere: 31st December 2020, streamed live from Kasino im Burgtheater, Wien.
“Michael Maertens shines in "Die Maschine in Mir" by Dead Centre and Mark O'Connell… amazing and highly original.”
Die Presse
“Dead Centre created an entertaining example of transdramatic theater. What hurt the most: That you couldn't applaud.”
Kurier
Performed by Michael Maertens
Featuring Mark O’Connell as himself
Adapted by Mark O’Connell and Dead Centre from the book by Mark O’Connell
German translation by Henning Bochert
Technical Direction and Video Design Jack Phelan
Set Design Andrew Clancy
Lighting Design Stephen Dodd / Norbert Gottwald
Sound Design and Music Kevin Gleeson
Costume Design Saileóg O’Halloran / Maria-Lena Poindl
Camera operators Andrea Gabriel, Mariano Margarit
Video Technology and Programming Marcell Bándi
Sound Michael Steinkellner
Sound and video operation Marie Pfaffl
Light operation Dominik Hofmann
Stage Manager Veronika Hofeneder
Make-up Eva-Maria Schmid-Marhold
Prompt Monika Brusenbauch, Barbara Emilia Dauer
Software Developer Zac Davison
The Arm Dylan Tonge-Jones
Assistant Director Julia Thym
Second Assistant Director Norma Eggenberger
Dramaturg Andreas Karlaganis
Directed by Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd
To Be a Machine (Version 1.0) is a Dead Centre co-production with Dublin Theatre Festival. Developed and supported by Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin as part of the European ARTificial Intelligence Lab project. Co-Funded by the Creative Europe. Supported by the Arts Council.
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All photographs: Marcella Ruiz Cruz
