If history is a narrative that is written by the victors, then Dark Noon is a rousing anti-narrative. It tells the story of America as a race for land, gold and wealth. It is a deadly journey: in this place, those in pursuit of happiness in the name of God pay no heed to the lives of others. It is narrated by those who know exactly what it means to be colonised. In real time, an extraordinary cast of South African actors build a Western town – a bar, saloon, gold mine, railway, church and plenty of shoot-outs included. Brimming with irony, anger and unbridled energy, they recount the westward flight of 35 million impoverished and starving Europeans in search of a second chance. The award-winning Danish director Tue Biering and the South African co-director and choreographer Nhlanhla Mahlangu achieve an explosive theatre experience that mocks Hollywood at the same time as delivering an untamed chronicle of Western civilisation.
Text, Direction Tue Biering Choreography, Co-Direction Nhlanhla Mahlangu With Bongani Bennedict Masango, Joe Young, Kaygee Letsholonyana, Lillian Tshabalala-Malulyck, Mandla Gaduka, Siyambonga Alfred Mdubeki, Thulani Zwane Set design Johan Kølkjær Sound design Ditlev Brinth Light design Christoffer Gulløv Props design Marie Rosendahl Chemnitz Costume design Camilla Lind Video design Rasmus Kreiner International Producer for fix+foxy Annette Max Hansen Production management Thomas Dotzler, Jonathan Hjorth Stage management Svante Huniche Corell Sound management, Operation Theo Hector Assistance direction Katinka Hurvig Møller Costume management Sofie Bonde Lenau Executive producer for Dark Noon International & GHP Glynis Hall Producer for Dark Noon International & The Pleasance Anthony Alderson Associate producer for Dark Noon International & GHP Juliette Stark General management for Dark Noon International & GHP Camilla King
Production fix+foxy, Glynis Henderson Productions, The Pleasance and Republique Funded by Statens Kunstfond (Denmark), Bikubenfonden (Denmark), Beckett-Foundation (Denmark)
World premiere May 2019, Revolver & Republique/Østerbro Teater (Copenhagen)
The performances in Vienna are supported by the Ministry of Culture Denmark and the Danish Embassy in Vienna.
