
Photo: Jens Peter Engedal
date
20. March 2020
time
13.00
Ticket
For most of those who have had near-death experiences, lives are changed forever. Many return to life without fear of death and with an overwhelming sense of how everything is connected. The first Danish, scientific study of this phenomenon is currently underway… as is the performance by Teater Katapult, ANNA, WALK WITH ME, which focal point is near-death experiences.
…
During the performance, the life of forensic medical student Anna's (actor Anne Ur Konoy) changes drastically after a dramatic traffic accident. At the hight of impact, she experiences her whole life in a split of a second. And while the doctors are fighting to save her life on the operating table, the audience joins her on a journey into death.
Torben Dahl, Theatre Manager of Teater Katapult, says about the performance:
We have attempted to create a light performance filled with lots of humor - but also a performance with presence, which hopefully stimulates the audience to think about how they act in their own lives.
We have studied the near-death phenomenon and been in direct contact with people who have experienced it. What is most interesting to me are the three points, which are all part of the experiences told by a large part of those who have had near-death experiences: 1) They are no longer afraid of dying, 2) The experience has changed their life and way of living drastically, and 3) They feel that everything is connected. The latter leaves them - as many describe it - with a much greater responsibility to themselves and to others and the world. It is immensely interesting to dramatize.
ANNA, WALK WITH ME by Teater Katapult is created in co-production with Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium.
As a theatre we are not afraid of dealing with any theme. It is said that Denmark possibly has one of the most death-fearing populations, and when we talk about death here in Denmark, it is often connected with darkness, tragedy and sadness. People with near-death experiences tell of something very different! It is important for Teater Katapult to make a performance that describes dying in a completely different way to what we are used to.
The concept for ANNA, WALK WITH ME was developed between Torben Dahl and musician Julie Ben Semmane, based on an idea she had in 2015.
The performance mixes many artistic elements. About the musical part Julie Ben Semmane says:
The sound universe is composed of many parts, genres and expressions. We have chosen puppets and a puppeteer, Rolf Søborg, to show some of what is going on during near-death and what is being fantasised about it, because it offers completely different possibilities to show what we can only imagine.
Photo: Jens Peter Engedal
Julie Ben Semmane encourages everyone to come and see the performance:
You have to go see ANNA, WALK WITH ME if you want to be gently shaken. To be led towards something we don't talk about much - if you wish to shed light on it. To have a small fear of death dissolved. A great deal of work has been put into mixing expressions; acting, puppets, unusual music and nature-inspired sounds. It all becomes very sensual. Go see ANNA, WALK WITH ME if you want to be sensually inspired.
PERFORMANCE
Actor:Anna Ur Konoy
Performers: Julie Ben Semmane (song / music), Rolf Søborg Hansen (puppets)
Idea: Julie Ben Semmane
Concept: Julie Ben Semmane & Torben Dahl
Screenplay: Julie Petrine Glargaard & Nina Berry (UK)
Staging: Petra Berg
Scenography and puppets: Rolf Søborg Hansen
Composer and sound designer: AYO & Julie Ben Semmane
Lighting design: Kasper Daugberg
Playwright: Lise Sofie Houe
Photo: Gísli Dúa Hjörleifsson
Translation: Elias Blicher
Duration: Approx. 75 min.
Supported by: Statens Kunstfonds Project Support Committee for the Performing Arts and Aarhus Municipality's Cultural Development Fund
Photo: Jens Peter Engedal