SEX, DRUGS & BUDD’N’BROOKS

But don’t worry, the North German national epic is mainly the starting point for an immersive theatre game continuing the iconic saga about the downfall of the Buddenbrook merchant family in the Vienna Wurstlprater of the present day. In the periphery of the entertainment district, outcasts of society gather every night at a pub called Budd’n’brooks to find a bit of happiness under the cloud of neon light. For long, the glaring light of the major entertainment industry has outshone the family business. The rules of the market have remained the same, but big business has been slow. Some have a lot to lose, others have nothing. So, who will profit from the impuissance of those who fall? Who will surrender to the lures of rising to the top? And who decides what happens next? In this elaborate theatre game production, visitors will encounter known characters, sex work, and rave excesses. They themselves will turn into protagonists able to change the fates of individuals, the whole family or even this entire play.

Queerness and diversity are the basis of all Nesterval productions. In a mix of classic acting and elements of immersive theatre, Herr Finnland and his team have been creating performative adventures since 2011. In their pieces, spectators become players who influence what happens. Nesterval productions are often site-specific projects performed outside conventional theatre spaces. The group comprises close to 20 people, including performers, drag artists, actors, and amateur players, all appearing in various constellations. There are two links between productions: Each of them contains a reference to a member of the fictional Nesterval family; and there is always a game component involved. Nesterval has realised numerous works in collaboration with brut, most recently Goodbye Kreisky. Welcome Underground.