Nesterval’s new work The Nameless (Die Namenlosen) deals with the systematic persecution and killing of homosexual and trans people during the National Socialist regime. It is created in co-production with brut Wien and consulted by QWIEN – Zentrum für queere Stadtgeschichte. Nesterval, the ‘queer popular theatre guerrilla’ (Kampnagel, Hamburg) that received the NESTROY theatre award in 2020, most recently tackled Thomas Mann’s Buddenbrooks and, at original locations, the downfall of the monarchy in Austria in Die letzten Tage der Nestervals (‘The Last Days of the Nestervals’).
The area of Vienna’s railway station Nordwestbahnhof, August 2nd, 1938. ‘Der ewige Jude’ (the eternal Jew), an antisemitic exhibition full of hatred and denunciation, is being opened in the main hall of the station. Many lives are subject to forced labour, deportation, and looting by the Nazis. In one of the halls on the vast grounds, there is the warehouse of the Nesterval china factory with the attached canteen where family members, workers and residents meet. Martha Nesterval, outwardly a staunch National Socialist, is here for the company. She and her husband, a doctor also loyal to the regime, are supposed to take their nephew under their wing to heal him of his ‘dreamy manners.’ But the environment to which the aunt introduces the nephew instead opens him yet another new world: At night, they say, the company canteen turns into an unofficial, secret joint for the Nameless, whose life is so often determined by fear, danger, and self-denial during the day. But even this parallel universe is about to be destroyed ‘piece by piece and person by person’. The activities around the canteen and the nightly goings-on have stirred the curiosity of the police, who now begin to investigate in the group’s milieu, asking around for evidence of lewd behaviour and criminal energies. The audience will get closer to the characters than ever in this new Nesterval production, since it will embody their thoughts – the thoughts that are with them at all times as they move through the story.
The immersive acting group Nesterval identifies as a queer popular theatre that translates historic classics of literature and drama into the present day by exaggerating and deconstructing them. Each production revolves around the pleasure of playing, the creation of a theatrical space for adventure, and the involvement of the audience in the performance. Interactive agency is enabled by empathy, surprising casting, and the conversations between spectators and actors that are actively pursued during, but also after the show. Nesterval works with a queer technique of empowerment in which the playful level always includes a political dimension as societally relevant questions are posed and negotiated. All productions – more than 25 so far have been shown in Austria and abroad – are based on epochal events of the (fictional) Nesterval family dynasty. They are all site-specific and make reference to the cultural, societal, and historical background of each venue, thus fostering the decentralisation of the arts and culture industry. The cast is composed of about 20 performers, drag artists, and actors, who, in different constellations, tell the story of the legendary Nesterval family.
Trigger warning: The performance deals with war, anti-Semitism, discrimination and National Socialism. There will be dark rooms, depictions of violence and nudity. There is always the option to leave the rooms/scenes and go back to the bar (safe space) if you feel uncomfortable. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, please contact team@nesterval.at and the group will get back to you.
"The Nameless is the most complex piece by Finnland and his collaborators: One is constantly amazed by the precise flow of the many parallel actions." (Kurier)
"It's not just gazing, but thinking along, living along, feeling along." (Der Standard)
"The Nesterval ensemble invites you to a logistical coup at Vienna's Nordwestbahnhof." (Die Presse)
"Under the direction of Martin Finnland, the ensemble succeeds in delivering an extraordinary history lesson." (Wiener Zeitung)
Artistic Director / Director Martin Finland Written by Teresa Löfberg Co-Writers Martin Finland, Gisa Fellerer, Lorenz Tröbinger Co-Concept, Applications & Archive Martin Walanka Production Emilie Kleinszig Stage Design Andrea Konrad Set Construction Andreas Holzmann (Vienna Decoration Company) and Walter Winkelmüller Costume Design Dritan Kosovrasti Choreography Marcelo Doño Secondary Direction Lorenz Tröbinger Composition Julian Muldoon Song Lyrics Sarah Muldoon Sound Design Alkis Vlassakakis Collaboration Play Development Gisa Fellerer Scientific Collaboration Andreas Brunner, Jürgen Pettinger Consulting Magic Raphael Macho Team Equipment Ruth Grau, Willy Mutzenpachner, Milo Marx, Lorenz Hötzeneder Evening management Canteen Peter Kraus Graphic design Rita Brandneulinger Website Gisa Fellerer Social media Christopher Wurmdobler Photography Alexandra Thompson Trailer Lorenz Tröbinger Director's traineeship Laura Athanasiadis Cooperations Lukas Kirisits Accounting & Office Doris Panzer Technology Plan B, Till Gatermann Stage management Ela Lankes, Sabine Anders, Sebastian Kieberl Bar Denice Bourbon, Simon Stockinger, Anne Wieben, Norbert Fiedler, Alexandra Thompson, Bernhard Hablé, Eva Deutsch, Jürgen Pettinger, Luki Kirisits, Markus Gorfer
With Christopher Wurmdobler, Martin Finland, Gisa Fellerer, Chiara Seide, Stefan Pauser, Sophie Riedl, Romy Hrubeś, Willy Mutzenpachner, Rita Brandneulinger, Johannes Scheutz, Sven Diestel, Gellert Gerson Butter, Martin Walanka, Laura Hermann, Aston Matters, Lorenz Tröbinger, Peter Kraus, Julia Fuchs, Alkis Vlassakakis, Ela Lankes, Sabine Anders, Sebastian Kieberl, Denice Bourbon, Simon Stockinger, Anne Wieben, Norbert Fiedler, Alexandra Thompson, Bernhard Hablé, Eva Deutsch, Jürgen Pettinger, Luki Kirisits, Markus Gorfer
Special thanks to Tove Grün (dramaturgical support), Peter Hörmanseder (sound recordings), Ari Ban, ÖBB and the friends of Nesterval (especially Andrea & Valerie Lenk, Andreas Kauba, Gerhard Mariarcher, Martin Hinterndorfer and Michael Marker) as well as Nikolaus Vogler and (PHKV Rechtsanwälte) and René Lipkovich (SLT Siart Lipkowvich & Team).
A co-production with brut Wien.
With the kind support of MA7 Kultur // BMKÖS // National Fund of the Republic of Austria.
Near brut nordwest
Nordwestbahnstraße 8–10, 1200 Vienna
accessible
Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Vienna
Subway: U1, U2 (Praterstern), U4 (Friedensbrücke), U6 (Dresdnerstraße) Tram: 5 (Nordwestbahnstraße) Bus: 5A (Wasnergasse)
accessible
Vogelweidplatz 13, 1150 Wien
Subway: U6 (Burggasse-Stadthalle) / Bus: 48A (Moeringgasse) / Tram: 9 (Camillo Sitte Gasse)
not accessible
Zieglergasse 25, 1070 Wien
Subway: U3 (Zieglergasse), Tram: 49 (Westbahnstraße / Zieglergasse)