DARUM (Victoria Halper & Kai Krösche)
Auflösung
Ein (virtueller) Kontrollverlust
Dissolution. A (Virtual) Loss of Control
In Auflösung (‘Dissolution’), DARUM’s second virtual reality production following [EOL]. End of Life – a NESTROY-winning VR performance invitated to the Berlin Theatertreffen and multiple other festivals –, Victoria Halper and Kai Krösche send their audiences out into a constantly changing, decaying architecture. This journey into darkness at the intersection of performance and installation uses the means of immersion and virtual/mixed reality to find out what happens when we are more than ever in need of orientation and help but there’s nobody there to hold our hand. Auflösung is an immersive confrontation with what society keeps ignoring, which is that sooner or later, we will all reach a point where we cannot make it alone anymore and rely on support.
All of a sudden, something’s off. There’s a wall where a corridor used to be; there’s a bottomless void where just a moment ago the memory of something opened doors to past times. Signposts are the only way to find out of this decaying building now. But what if the helping hand to guide one through darkness is suddenly gone? What if the familiar voice goes silent and the world around us gets lost in dissolution – until, eventually, we do as well?
The issue of how to deal with those in need of care in the face of a deepening nursing crisis affects all of us and will get even more pressing in a not-too-distant future. In their new piece, DARUM dare broach the subject and ask: What does it mean for us as a society not to have enough resources to care for people in need? What does it mean for those affected? Auflösung (‘Dissolution’) wants to counter repression with confrontation and to expose audiences to a perceived loss of control using the immersive means of installation and virtual/mixed reality – offering them to face their own (future) vulnerability through art, to challenge our society’s handling of the sick, dying and elderly and to approach the unknown at least with a vague idea.
Following [EOL]. End of Life, their highly decorated co-production with brut Wien, DARUM’s final work at the brut nordwest venue, is an artistic ‘breakdown’ that once again tackles mortality – only in Auflösung, the architecture will mutate not only in the virtual space.
DARUM, co-headed by directors Victoria Halper and Kai Krösche, was established in 2019 and creates performances, installations, films and works of audio, video and media art, tackling the issues that tend to keep us awake at night. DARUM’s performances were nominated for the NESTROY theatre prize four times and won it twice (in 2023 and 2025). Their virtual reality performance [EOL]. End of Life was invited to the Berlin Theatertreffen as one of the ten most remarkable productions of 2024, to the Impulse Theater Festival, to Politik im freien Theater and numerous other renowned festivals; and it will continue touring. In 2025, Victoria Halper and Kai Krösche received the Austrian Outstanding Artist Award in the performing arts category for their work in the context of DARUM.
Pressestimmen
‘With Auflösung, the duo has once again produced an impressive VR piece that surprises with its technical sophistication and highlights just how rapidly the technology is advancing.’
Sonja Harter, APA
‘A performance couldn’t be more contemporary. With daring flair, DARUM wrests the tool of virtual reality from the clutches of commercialism, makes ironic use of the technology developed by the Meta corporation, and tackles one of the most pressing social issues of our time. The verdict: a masterpiece.’
Helmut Ploebst, Der Standard
‘A truly impressive experience.’
Barbara Beer, Kurier
Accessibility
This show takes place in the rehearsal spaces on brut nordwest’s 1st floor. They can only be reached using a flight of stairs. There is no elevator. An accessible bathroom is available on the ground floor.
Credits
With Simon Dietersdorfer Direction & Story Victoria Halper & Kai Krösche (DARUM) 3D architecture (Virtual Reality) Mark Surges Set design Matthias Krische Music & sound design Arthur Fussy Character design & animation, costume design, interior design (3D) & motion capture Victoria Halper Creative coding & lighting design (VR) Kai Krösche Outside eye (spatial storytelling) & 360-degree photos Philipp Ehmann Technical management team Lukas Saller & Lina Schmeling (PlanB) Testing & artistic feedback David Rosenberg, Matthias Krische, Matthias Seier, Flori Gugger, Arthur Fussy, Armin Kirchner et al. Production management Armin Kirchner, Ferdinand Trübsbach Assistant director Julia Sichelradner Further support Verena Jochum, Haiko Pfost
All voices were recorded by Simon Dietersdorfer and altered using artificial intelligence.
A co-production by DARUM, brut Wien and Asphalt Festival (Düsseldorf)
Funded by the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs (MA 7) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS)
Dates & Tickets
Change of date
Due to production issues, the world premiere of Auflösung has been postponed to 05 May. The performances on 23, 24 and 25 April have been cancelled. On 28, 29 and 30 April, previews will take place. As the production is still in its final stages of development at this point, there may be brief interruptions or minor technical bugs.
April 2026
Postponed
Postponed
Postponed
Preview: 14 €
Preview: 14 €
Preview: 14 € / Timeslots from 15:00 / last slot will be finished at 22:30
May 2026
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
22 € / 18 € * Sold out. Any last-minute availability will be announced via Instagram Stories.
brut nordwest
Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Vienna
accessible
Info
Content notes
The performance contains indications of physical and psychological violence and neglect, helplessness, loneliness, disease, dying, suicide and death. The virtual-reality part features elements of confinement, altitude, disorientation and darkness as well as generally unsettling, confusing or oppressive situations. Audiences are required to permanently move about both real and (via VR headset and controller) virtual spaces. Breaks are not possible, and the performance can only be experienced alone. It is possible to stop the performance anytime. Recommended from the age of 16.
Downloads
Evening programme DARUM (PDF)
