Argentinian theatre maker Mariano Pensotti is renowned for his ingenious storytelling and, together with his Grupo Marea, he presents an evening of fictional documentary theatre entitled The Play that is as improbable as reality itself and as deeply nested as a Russian matryoshka doll. Five actors tell a story in front of a revolving backdrop. And it goes something like this: A Vienna based theatre maker stumbles across a newspaper article in The Guardian. As a result, he embarks on a journey to Argentina to research on site the biography of Polish Jew Simon Frank. It in turn goes something like this: After fleeing Nazi Germany, Frank worked together with his village community in Argentina to recreate his former home as a setting. Year after year and ever more elaborately, he brings his own life story to the stage in the form of a play. Until one day everything collapses. Yet the play, in which the five actors disclose what they saw and experienced, goes something like this …
Text, Direction Mariano Pensotti With Rami Fadel Khalaf, Alejandra Flechner, Diego Velázquez, Susana Pampin, Horacio Acosta, Pablo Seijo Set, Costumes Mariana Tirantte With music by Diego Vainer Music Julián Rodríguez Artistic production management Florencia Wasser Light design David Seldes Video Martin Borini General assistance Juan Francisco Reato Dramaturgy Aljoscha Begrich
Realisation Documentary
Script, direction Mariano Pensotti Art direction Mariana Tirantte General production Florencia Wasser Cinematography, DOP Soledad Rodriguez Camera assistance Maria Eugenia Brigante Gaffer Eugenia Gargano Direction assistance, editing Ignacio Ragone General assistance Juan Francisco Reato Art team Lara Stilstein, Tatiana Mladineo, Luli Peralta
Coproduction Wiener Festwochen, Athens Epidaurus Festival, Printemps des Comediéns Montpellier, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa In collaboration with Grand Theatre Groningen
Premiere June 2023, Wiener Festwochen