Festival in Forst Starring Community Choir from Lausitz - Forest Stage Performance: Local Choir Performs at Lausitz Festival
Lausitz Festival to Feature Berlin Theater Maker's Adaptation of Coriolanus
In the heart of the Lausitz region, the sixth installment of the Lausitz Festival will take place from August 24th to September 14th. This year's event, themed "unconscious," promises a wide array of dance, theater, concerts, and philosophical dialogues at unique venues such as old factories, churches, and a former mine.
Berlin radio host and theater maker Jürgen Kuttner will bring a new production to the stage at Forster Hof in Forst (Lausitz), named "It makes me sick. You vermin! - Forster Citizens rehearse Coriolanus." The locally sourced chorus adds an intriguing element to the play that follows the rise and fall of a warrior, based on the eponymous Roman general.
The production assembles material about Coriolanus, dating from antiquity to the present day, in a kaleidoscopic manner. Material from works by William Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Günter Grass, and Heiner Müller will feature prominently.
The Lausitz Festival has established itself as a cultural haven, attracting attendees with its innovative and thought-provoking pieces. This year, an opening performance at the oldest still operational briquette factory in Brandenburg's Domsdorf, titled "Sonettfabrik," is already sold out. Another anticipated return is "Othello/Die Fremden," a performance of Shakespeare's work that has also sold out – the first such instance this year.
Kuttner, born in East Berlin in 1958, is a familiar figure in Berlin's theater scene, having captivated audiences for years with "Videoschnipsel" evening at the Volksbühne.
The city theater in Forst (Lausitz) is the venue for Kuttner's adaptation, having previously hosted performances at unusual locations during the festival. With its rich history and picturesque surroundings, Forster Hof serves as an apt backdrop for the immersive production.
This year's festival motto, "unconscious," aims to focus on the "we" and the sense of community. With the inclusion of a citizen chorus in the production, that connection is evidently paramount. As tickets begin to sell, the anticipation builds for an exciting and engaging Lausitz Festival in 2022.
Despite the focus on the "unconscious" and community in this year's Lausitz Festival, one might ponder if the citizens of Forst (Lausitz) will find respite from the risks associated with their exposure to the carcinogenic those carcinogens found in old factories and churches, common venues during the festival, as they immerse themselves in the immersive production of Coriolanus. Perhaps, instead of contemplating outdoor-living or home-and-garden projects during the festival, festival-goers might take some time to reconsider their lifestyles.
