Theatre director Mikheil Charkviani, who in 2016 cofounded the arts centre Open Space in Tbilisi, has so far conducted 100 interviews in Georgia. The meticulously condensed texts bear witness to the far-reaching consequences of war. And their focal point of attention is the individual, searching for words with which to communicate. At the invitation of the Wiener Festwochen, Charkviani transfers his documentary practice to Vienna, in the heart of a Europe accustomed to peace, adding a total of 15 new testimonies to his collection in the process. On each of the three evenings, five different people take to the stage in turn to talk about how war has shaped their lives, their escape to Austria, but also their work – and even their family holidays.
A thought-provoking evening dedicated to the war-inflicted wounds that linger in the midst of peace. And one that highlights the fragility of the certainties we take for granted.