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I apologize (Text by Gisèle Vienne)
“I Apologize” was born out of an accident reconstruction. This reconstruction is the basis from which derive several versions of the same event, in order to define its truth and reality. These various versions take on a blurred identity, somewhere between the representation of a real event and the representation of a fantasy, and are the foundation of the structure of the play, a reflection on reality, and of the possible representations of reality.
A young man is in charge of these different versions of reality, by directing a man and a woman, both baroque and rock icons, and twenty-odd young girls, all aged around twelve, represented by articulated dolls. Confusion slowly creeps in our perception of reality, which thus appears as a world of approximations and subjectivity, whose gaping holes we fill with our own fantasies.
American author Dennis Cooper has written poems and monologues especially for this show, which question the real or imagined link between those and the events happening on the stage. Cooper himself will be reading these texts, which are intricately linked to Peter Rehberg’s musical score. The texts and staging of the play interact and conjure up images associated to sexual desire, death and crime. They raise issues about imagination in relation to fantasy and its impossible fulfilment.
Although music and words are at the core of the show, it is bodies and dolls that ultimately form the centre of the project. This is why this show, although undeniably influenced by choreography, is nonetheless derived from a work process that is truly one of a puppeteer.
This work is designed to be an exploration of the emotions associated with the intricate link between eroticism, death, and the disturbing stillness of dolls and puppets.
- Editions Mego celebration (Text by Peter Rehberg)
For the final in a series of showcases celebrating 20 years of the Austrian label Editions MEGO, a very special line up has been compiled.
The varied selection of performances over four spaces at MDT/Audiorama consists of:
Klara Lewis
HOX
Ilpo Väisänen
COHAs one of the most popular acts during the series of Editions MEGO 20 years showcases, young Swedish artist Klara Lewis will be presenting her unique brand of audio visual craft, combining found sounds, field recordings and electronic textures to create a beautifully resonant whole.
http://editionsmego.com/release/eMEGO-190The live premiere of HOX, a duo comprising of Edvard Graham Lewis (Wire/Dome/He Said/He Said Omala/Ocsid) and Andreas Karperyd (Omala/He Said Omala/Woodwork) performing a set of bittersweet contemporary electronic pop music.
http://editionsmego.com/release/EMEGO-214COH, aka Russian born, Stockholm based artist Ivan Pavlov has been a mainstay on the label for nearly 20 years. Pavlov’s mathematical use of minimal textures and proto-disco patterns make his sets always a force to be reckoned with.
http://editionsmego.com/release/eMEGO-197Since the self imposed deep freeze of the Finnish unit Pan Sonic, Ilpo Väisänen has been carving out tracks utilizing dub techniques in a strategic manner. The precise manipulation of sound and the removal of all extraneous material result in the creation of a disorientating landscape of austere spaces.
http://editionsmego.com/release/EMEGO-203A rare performance of Gisele Vienne’s classic “I apologize” piece. Originally premiered in 2004, featuring a text by Dennis Cooper and live music by Mego founder Peter Rehberg, this is a work exploring the emotions that are emerging from the intricate link between eroticism, death, and the disturbing stillness of dolls and puppets.
http://editionsmego.com/release/eMEGO-092
- Schedule
COH 18.00 / 20.10 **
Gisèle Vienne “I apologize” 19.00
HOX 21.00
Klara Lewis 22.00
Ilpo Väisänen 23.00*Starting times are approximate, and will follow the flow of the evening.
** Due to limited seating in Audiorama, COH has two starting times. Please be aware of which starting time your ticket is valid for.
- About Gisèle Vienne
Born in 1976, Gisèle Vienne is a franco-austrian artist, choreographer and director. After graduating in Philosophy, she studied at the puppeteering school Ecole Supérieure Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette. There she met Etienne Bideau-Rey with whom she created her first shows. She works regularly with, amongst other, the writers Dennis Cooper and Catherine Robbe-Grillet, the musicians Peter Rehberg (also known as Pita) and Stephen O’Malley, the light designer Patrick Riou and the actor Jonathan Capdevielle. Since 2004, she has choreographed and directed, in collaboration with the writer Dennis Cooper, I Apologize (2004) and Une belle enfant blonde / A young, beautiful blond girl (2005), Kindertotenlieder (2007), the play Jerk (2008), This is how you will disappear (2010), LAST SPRING: A Prequel (2011) and The Pyre (2013). In 2009, she created Eternelle Idole with an ice skater and an actor and the rewriting of Showroomdummies with Etienne Bideau-Rey. In 2013 they rewrite it again for CCN-Ballet de Lorraine. Since 2005, she has been frequently exhibiting her photographs and installations : her last exhibition was 40 PORTRAITS, 2003-2008 at the Centre d’Art Contemporain in Geneva in August 2015. Her last piece titled The Ventriloquists Convention, in collaboration with Dennis Cooper and Puppentheater Halle, was premiered at Internationales Sommerfestival Kampnagel Hamburg in August 2015. The current works in progress are an exhibition at the FRAC Alsace for March 2016, an interpretation of Blue Beard’s Castle of Béla Bartok for La Monnaie-De Munt in Brussels for spring 2017, and a dance project for fall 2017. Her company is supported by le Ministère de la culture et de la communication – DRAC Alsace, la Région Alsace and la Ville de Strasbourg. The company is also supported by Institut Français for international touring. Gisèle Vienne is associate artist at the theater Nanterre-Amandiers from 2014. www.g-v.fr
- About Peter Rehberg
Peter Rehberg (b. 1968) is an author and performer of electronic audio works based in Vienna, Austria. Rehberg has given live performances both solo and collaborative throughout Europe, North & South America, Japan and Australia. One of the first batch of artists that turned to mobile computing devices for presentation of live audio performances in mid-1990’s. He has collaborated live and in the studio with, amongst others, Jim O’Rourke and Christian Fennesz (as Fenn O’Berg), Stephen O’Malley (as KTL), Gisele Vienne/DACM, Peterlicker, Z’EV Russell Haswell, Florian Hecker, Meg Stuart, Chris Haring, Marcus Schmickler, Jade, SUNNO))), as well as being a member of MIMEO. He also operates the Editions Mego (www.editionsmego.com) label since 2006, and was co-leader of the original Mego label since 1995. His collaboration with Gisèle Vienne involved creating the music for I Apologize (2004) and Une belle enfant blonde / A Young Beautiful Blond Girl (2006), Kindertotenlieder (2007) and This is how you will disappear (2010) in collaboration with Stephen O’Malley with whom he formed the band KTL, Jerk a radio-play, Jerk solo for a puppeteer as well as for two other shows by Etienne Bideau- Rey & Gisèle Vienne: Showroomdummies (2001 & remade in 2009) and Stereotypie (2003). He also collaborated on the music for Highway 101, a show choreographed by Meg Stuart, and for Fremdkörper by Chris Haring, as well as taking part in the 2nd Göteborg Art Biennale (Against All Evens) curated by CM von Hausswolff in 2003.
- Credits I apologize
Created by Gisèle Vienne. Texts written and “off” Dennis Cooper. Original live music by Peter Rehberg. Lighting by Patrick Riou. Make-up by Rebecca Flores. Dolls created by Raphaël Rubbens, Dorothéa Vienne-Pollak, Gisèle Vienne. Created in collaboration with, and performed by Jonathan Capdevielle, Anja Röttgerkamp, Jean-Luc Verna. Administration-booking: DACM / Compagnie Gisèle Vienne Etienne Hunsinger. Alma Office Anne-Lise Gobin, Alix Sarrade & Fréderique Vansteenwegen. Executive producer DACM / Compagnie Gisèle Vienne. Coproducers: Les Subsistances / 2004/ Lyon – WP-Zimmer / Anvers. With the support of the Centre Chorégraphique National de Grenoble as part of the Accueil Studio 2004, of the Ministère de la Culture/ Drac Rhône-Alpes, of the Conseil Régional Rhône-Alpes, the Conseil Général de l’Isère, and the ske / Autriche. With the support of the Institut International de la Marionnette and of the Compagnie des Indes for the video recording. The company Gisèle Vienne is supported by Ministère de la culture et de la communication – DRAC Alsace, Région Alsace and Ville de Strasbourg, and Service de la culture du Canton de Bâle-Ville. The company is supported by Institut Français – Ministère des affaires étrangères, for international touring. Gisèle Vienne is associate artist at Nanterre-Amandiers CDN since 2014.
- Timetable
Gisèle Vienne & Peter Rehberg
I apologize & Editions Mego

(Photo: Philippe Munda)


(Photo: Mathilde Darel)

(Photo: Gisèle Vienne)

(Photo: Editions Mego)

(Photo: Hampus Högberg/Editions Mego)

(Photo: Editions Mego)

Editions Mego

(Photo: Mathilde Darel)

(Photo: Gisèle Vienne)