In November, artists Gin Müller, Jan Machacek, Miriam Balderas, Kaveh Parmas and Edwarda Gurrola will present part two of FANTOMAS MONSTER at brut at Hamakom. The series addresses and reflects the experiences of artists and activists facing actual state terror, resistance and displacement while at the same time shedding a humorous light on courageous rebellion, sparks of hope and the necessity of human superheroes and superheroines.
Part two of this live staging of a graphic novel features a journey from Vienna to Mexico, a country where a superhero called Fantomas was created as a comic-book character alternative to American Superman and Batman characters. The Mexican narrator of the story returns into a climate marked by drug wars, post-colonialism and political corruption in order to wage a struggle against the power of fear and oblivion. Joined by Fantomas, she embarks on her journey with the aim to bury the remains of her brother, one of the 43 lost students of Ayotzinapa. Can a superhero like Fantomas be of any help in a country where not even superheroes are safe?
Gin Müller is a dramaturge, performer and queer activist working at the intersection of performance art and political activism. Jan Machacek is a performer and media artist, who devises live video performances and installations but also set designs and stage video art. Edwarda Gurrola first appeared on Mexican television when she was a child and has featured in numerous theatre, film and TV productions since. In 2015, she was nominated for an Ariel, the Mexican film award, as best leading actress. FANTOMAS MONSTER – Part 2 marks the first collaboration of the above artists in this constellation including actors Miriam Balderas and Kaveh Parmas.
México: Fantomas contra el Miedo y el Olvido
El episodio Fantomas contra el Miedo y el Olvido es la segunda producción en vivo de una novela gráfica, entre la docu-ficción y el cómic. Cuenta la historia de una mexicana que hace un viaje a su país de origen en noviembre del 2014, unos meses después de la desaparición del los 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa. El viaje es de Viena a México: un país, donde ya ni los superhéroes están seguros.
FANTOMAS MONSTER es una serie de obras de teatro multimedia, inspirada en la novela de Julio Cortazar Fantomas contra los vampiros multinacionales (1975) que refleja las experiencias de activistas con el terror del Estado y la violencia de las transnacionales. Los Episodios cuentan historias sobre superheroes humanos y su resistencia contra regimenes corruptos: Una exploraracion sobre la importancia de los superhéroes hoy en día en forma de una producción en vivo de una novela gráfica, entre la docu-ficción y el cómic.
Accompanying the performance of Part 2/Mexico, an exhibition of FANTOMAS MONSTER – Teil 1/Iran will be on display in the foyer of Theater Nestroyhof Hamakom. In addition, on 8 and 9 December, there will be a side programme including film screenings and talks with human rights activists.
Dramaturgy & direction Gin Müller Set design & video art Jan Machacek Performers Miriam Balderas, Edwarda Gurrola, Kaveh Parmas Research Katia Tirado, Gerhard Montes de Oca Music Postkaput (Victor Martinez & Icetrip Estevez) Costume design Adriana Olivera Set construction Franz Kapfer Video programming Oliver Stotz Lighting design Lucas Gruber Lighting technician Denise KamschalGraphic design Georg Starzner Production management Christine Sbaschnigg, Rosario Hevia
A co-production by Gin Müller, Jan Machacek, Edwarda Gurrola and brut Wien. With the kind support of the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Verein zur Förderung der Bewegungsfreiheit, Museo Universitario del Chopo, FONCA (Programa Creadores Escénicos, 2017-20), Teatro Carlos Lazo, Facultad de Arquitectura, UNAM and Foro Cultural de Austria en Mexico.
brut at Theater Nestroyhof Hamakom
Nestroyplatz 1, 1020 Vienna
accessible
Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Vienna
Subway: U1, U2 (Praterstern), U4 (Friedensbrücke), U6 (Dresdnerstraße) Tram: 5 (Nordwestbahnstraße) Bus: 5A (Wasnergasse)
not accessible
Zieglergasse 25, 1070 Wien
Subway: U3 (Zieglergasse), Tram: 49 (Westbahnstraße / Zieglergasse)
Eschenbachgasse 11 / Ecke Getreidemarkt, 1010 Vienna
U-Bahn: U4, U1 (Karlsplatz), Tram: 1, 2, D, 71 (Burgring), Bus: 57A (Getreidemarkt)