A person stands on a stage. You look at him. That is the moment when theatre is created. But what if this person looks back? When he looks at you, what happens then? Is that still theatre? Or has a golden rule been broken?

From ancient Greek tragedy, through 18th Century Vienna, to the modern anatomy theatre, the threads of KATHARSIS are inspired by stories from Olga Tokarczuk's novel Flights. It is the story of an actor and his body, about what is in it, about who looks at it, and what should happen to it after he dies.

KATHARSIS premiered March 18th 2023 at Akademietheater, Vienna.

“What does a body carry with it that goes beyond the physiological? To whom does it belong during life and in death? What value does one attach to it? Questions like these are raised by this 90-minute evening... The result is a completely new, remarkable piece.”
Der Standard

“Dead Centre’s unusual mix of facts, essay, trivia, tricks, and considerable magic.”
★★★★
Kleine Zeitung

Cast
ERNEST ALLAN HAUSMANN
SAFIRA ROBENS
KATRIN GRUMETH
PHILIPP HAUS
JOHANNES ZIRNER

Live Camera
JULIA JANINA VÁRKONYI, ANDREA GABRIEL

Stage Design JEREMY HERBERT
Video Design SOPHIE LUX
Lighting Design MARCUS LOREN
Sound Design & Music KEVIN GLEESON
Costume Design MIRJAM PLEINES

Dramaturg ALEX KERLIN
Assistant Director SEBASTIAN MCKIMM
Sensitivity Reader DANIEL BITOUH
Stage Design Assistant FELIX HUBER
Costume Assistant ANJANA BERGER

Text DEAD CENTRE, OLGA TOKARKZUK, SOPHOCLES
German Translation VICTOR SCHLOTHAUER
Direction BUSH MOUKARZEL, BEN KIDD

IMAGES by Marcella Ruiz-Cruz