A hunting expedition
The U.S. Declaration of Independence famously insists on the rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But is it really possible to hunt for happiness? Where does this strange beast reside? And how does our quest depend on the people around us?
We believe that dance is a powerful technology of mood: a tool for reflection, emotional manipulation, catharsis and ecstasy. And we believe that a dance performance is an excellent place to look for answers to life’s questions. Both the performers and the audience members join in on the search — by examining their own basic needs, witnessing each other’s struggles, and trying out different paths to fulfillment.
“The Pursuit of Happiness” features an unusual seating arrangement (similar to what we developed for our 2018 production “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo“) with the audience arranged on all four sides of the stage. This provides a high-definition viewing experience, a feeling of community, an unusual degree of intimacy, and the possibility of direct interactions with the performers.
We have high hopes for the results. But we’re also fully aware of the difficulty — perhaps even the absurdity — of our endeavor. John Stuart Mill once suggested that “not seeking happiness and being able to do without it is the most reliable way of attaining it.” Can we ever really know or predict what will make us happy? Isn’t the very essence of theatrical pleasure to leave the audience with a terrible hunger and emptiness once it’s over?
CHOREOGRAPHY
Joshua Monten
DANCE
Marioenrico D’Angelo
Angela Demattè
Frederik Kaijser
Jack Wignall
Konstantinos Kranidiotis [alternate]
DRAMATURGY
Guy Cools
SET DESIGN
Romy Springsguth
COSTUME DESIGN
Catherine Voeffray
LIGHTING DESIGN
Mirjam Berger
MUSIC CONSULTANT
Moritz Alfons
APPRENTICES
Giulia Esposito
Katharina Ludwig
PRODUCED BY
Verein Tough Love
COPRODUCED BY
Dampfzentrale Bern
Südpol Luzern
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS
Pro Helvetia
SWISSLOS / Kultur Kanton Bern
Kultur Stadt Bern
Burgergemeinde Bern
Migros Kulturprozent
GVB Kulturstiftung
Stanley Thomas Johnson Stiftung
Ernst Göhner Stiftung
Bürgi-Willert-Stiftung
Gwärtler Stiftung
Stiftung Anne-Marie Schindler
SSA-FARS
Else v. Sick Stiftung
PERFORMANCES
17 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
22 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
23 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
24 April 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
24 June 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — premiere
25 June 2021 (2x)— Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
26 June 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
24 July 2021 (2x) — Heimland Festival, Diepenheim (NL)
25 July 2021 (2x) — Heimland Festival, Diepenheim (NL)
7 August 2021 — La plage des Six Pompes, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
8 August 2021 — La plage des Six Sompes, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
18 November 2021 — Dock 11 Berlin (D)
19 November 2021 — Dock 11 Berlin (D)
20 November 2021 — Dock 11 Berlin (D)