Mao II
Mao II is a portrait of a retired writer who has been refusing to write off his great novel project for twenty-five years. He breaks through his self-imposed isolation when he becomes the key figure in an attempt to liberate a poet taken hostage in war-torn Beirut. The title refers to the famous portrait of Mao by Andy Warhol, examines human nature on the basis of the behaviour of crowds as well as that of the individual. “Today the men who shape and influence human consciousness are the terrorists”, DeLillo himself said about this.
Rabozaal
Duration: 3h and 10 min, no intermission
Language: French with Dutch surtitles
Su 14 apr: marathon
‘All aspects of Gosselin’s show – acting, film, dramaturgy, polymorphous scenery and live music – are superb.’ – The Guardian *****
The performance is a portrait of a retired writer who has been refusing to write off his great novel project for twenty-five years. He breaks through his self-imposed isolation when he becomes the key figure in an attempt to liberate a poet taken hostage in war-torn Beirut.
In Mao II (published in 1991) DeLillo very precisely predicted an age of terror, and asked the question what art can do to combat dogmatism and violence on a massive scale.
Joueurs, Mao II, Les Noms is the first part of a major project by Julien Gosselin, based on the work of American writer Don DeLillo. The separate parts can be seen prior to this marathon performance on 14 April.
With French director Julien Gosselin (Les Particules Élementaires and 2666), we will be adding one of the world’s greatest young directing talents to our theatre company. In his debut at ITA, Falling Man, he reflects on global terrorism and its effect on a family in New York during the aftermath of 9/11.
The performance is part of Gosselin’s great international Don DeLillo project, the first part of which will premiere at the Festival d’Avignon this summer. Part two, Falling Man with Eelco Smits, Hans Kesting, Maria Kraakman et al., premiered in March 2019. ITA is the only place in the world where both parts have been performed.
