2023 I WAS AN ELEPHANT ONCE IN CAMBODIA

set design for I WAS AN ELEPHANT ONCE IN CAMBODIA, at Theater am Werk (Vienna/A), directed by Yosi Wanunu

Performance: Barca Baxant, Isabella Händler, Anna Mendelssohn, Anat Stainberg, Florian Tröbinger, Markus Zett; Filmcast: Thomas Crawley, Onur Poyraz, Peter Stamer, Charlotte Zorell
Video: Michael Strohmann
Set design: Paul Horn
Costumes: Lena Kvadrat/art point
Written and directed by Yosi Wanunu
Produced by Kornelia Kilga, Charlotte Zorell

Co-produced by Theater am Werk, Vienna/ Dec 5 – 9, 2023

photos: Marietta Dang, Paul Horn

A Court Drama

A man says he is Jesus Christ. Why does he do this? Does he really believe that he is the Saviour? What would happen if several persons, each claiming the same delusional identity, were confronted with one another?

Welcome to the theatre of personalities, where performers act as the characters of people who take the roles of Christ. Welcome to the theatre of reenactment, where actors reenact the film based on a book about people who believe they are Christ. Welcome to the Rashomon of identities, where we stage the baseless nature of delusion and the flimsy foundations we use to construct our own identities.

In this theatre, everyone, including the viewers, has multiple identities. Everyone is in the business of counterfeiting many probable versions of themselves. Everyone, the audience included, tries to make their defective selves appear to others as competent personalities.

Text: Toxic Dreams