fantomas monster
The first part of the political thriller series, Fantomas against the power of erasure, is based on archive material and stories by activist Parastou Forouhar. In it, the artist and author repeatedly travels from Europe to Iran, the country where her parents were killed by the regime in 1998. Together with Fantomas, she fights against the deadly strategies of erasure, the disappearance of people and memories in the Iranian theocracy. The human superheroes are drawn deeper and deeper into a world of confusion between political reality, corruption, projection and fiction.
Inspired by a novella by Julio Cortázar, the international series project Fantomas Monster reflects the experiences of activists and artists with real political state terror. In the stage production of a graphic novel, the individual episodes also tell of courageous rebellion, sparks of hope and the necessity of human superheroes.
A shocking… and politically charged performance. The press
There is much that is surreal about this evening of theater, and on all levels. The ridiculousness of a regime that is still keeping itself alive is shown in the ban on an exhibition, which is circumvented by the empty frames representing a much greater criticism than any performance could have done. The empty frames of the famously diverse stage construction are so precisely filled with projections that this theater evening alone is a delightful experience. At the same time, the boundaries between reality and fiction, grief and resistance become blurred and a future Iran emerges in a dream. nightcritic.com
Credits
Concept, dramaturgy, direction Gin Müller
Concept, stage, video Jan Machacek
Text Parastou Forouhar, Gin Müller, Gorji Marzban
Performers:inside Edwarda Gurrola, Stefanie Sourial, Kaveh Parmas
Sound Sabine Marte
Video programming, sound mastering Oliver Stotz
Content consulting Gorji Marzban
Dramaturgical advice Haiko Pfost, Katalin Erdödi
Stage construction Franz Kapfer
Equipment Rupert Müller
Costumes Heidi Schatzl
Assistant director Natalie Ananda Assmann
Graphic flyer, publication Georg Starzner
Production Christine Sbaschnigg
A co-production of the Verein für Bewegungsfreiheit and brut Wien. With the kind support of the Cultural Department of the City of Vienna. With the support of the National Fund for Culture and the Arts Mexico (FONCA) in the category “Performing Arts”, 2017/2020