PERSONA portrays a series of
"I" personalities which don't necessarily represent an individuals
single personal history, but which rather flow between many varying sexual
identities. These identities merge and separate in one identity which
we call "O".
O is presented by
five puppets. They have no clothes to identify their characters, they
only have their skin, and the marks and signs which are scratched into
them, marks and signs of experiences which create their shame or pride,
all depending on the experiences. They are all dead objects which breathe
and move as if they were alive. These objects are objects for our own
desires, desire to defer death, to live inwardly within the time given
in our weak vessels.
The performance
concentrates on the bodies object nature, a free floating and anarchistic
sexuality, the deep split between the body and the mental state, head
separated from body, feelings from intellect, genders singularity as
opposed to "the other" through which "I" could have
discovered its humanity.
In an attempt to
construct its identity O searches for an original knowledge to do with
its physical "I" a knowledge which is found outside of language
and away from normality.
"My sexuality was ecstasy. It was my desire which, endless,
was limited neither by a solely material nor by a solely mental reality.
In that city dominated by commodities,more and more unsatiated I cried.
I would kill the city of perfection. My tears were the tears of whores.
I would have Mary Magdalen tear Virgin Marys flesh into shreds. My cunt
juice and piss, red, would drop out of her eyes.
I who am only gentle. I who could not even hurt my mother who hated
me. I, little baby: my crying my pissing is my sexuality."
Kathy
Acker
conceptual ideas: HOLLOW CREATURE
directing and scenography: GERD CHRISTIANSEN
text: KATHY ACKER
puppets: HOLLOW CREATURE
manuscript. KRISTIAN SELTUN AND HOLLOW CREATURE
puppeteers: PER ARNE LØSET AND KIRSTI LADEGÅRD
actor: FREDRIK HANNESTAD
composer: HELGE STEN
sound designer: SVEN ERGA
light design: JEAN VINCENT KEREBEL
photography: STEIN JARLE NILSEN
translation: KIRSTI LADEGÅRD AND KRISTIAN SELTUN
premiered at Black Box Theatre 21 November 1998
Funded by The Norwegian Cultural Advisory Body, Foundation for Active
Artists, The Norwegian Composers Body, Oslo Council, Black Box Theatre.
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