underline

Over 100 years since the publication of the futuristic novel "Flatland", Underline turns E. A. Abbott’s satirical utopia into a new music theatre. “Flatland” is the autobiographical story of A Square, an inhabitant of Flatland. What was once the novel’s fantastic vision of the future to criticize its Victorian society, is still serving as a valid analogy of our present time – Scene and music show human bodies, sets, materials and props as fitted objects and appropriated instruments in a geometrical performance.  In his story, the Square describes his two-dimensional world and reports of his journeys to regions of less and more dimensions, challenging the boundaries and limitations of his perception. In the associative, multidimensional and polyphonic composition of materials, images, forms, bodies, movements, light, videos, sound and music, Underline evolves from motives, conflicts, characters and narrative elements of the novel into a kinetic sculpture as musical object theatre. Underline places the audience in the position of the novel’s protagonist by letting them view spaces beyond imagination and thereby stimulates us to reflect on the limitations of our own.

Underline was commissioned by The 2016 Munich Biennale for New Music theater and was co-produced by the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Concept, Storyline and Directed by Deville Cohen
Set design and videos: Deville Cohen                                                                                          
Music and instrument design: Hugo Morales Murguia

Dramaturge: Dorothea Hartmann                                                                                               
Artistic advisors: Robyn Schulkowsky, Michael Höppner                                                       
Musical Director: Diego Espinosa                                                                                            
Coach: Elik Niv
Performers: Margaux Marielle-Trehoüart, Elik Niv, Herve Guerrisi, Moritz Ostruschnjak, Anja Füsti, Diego Espinosa, Almut Lustig, Emily Yabe

Duration: 61minutes