Zarathustra’s path based on Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical novel of the same name

Anton Podbevšek Teater (APT) is staging the première of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, directed by Matjaž Berger, on 15 March 2016 at 8 pm at the Božidar Jakac Art Museum in Kostanjevica na Krki. The performance is based on one of Nietzsche’s central ideas regarding the overman surpassing himself through inner transformation. The project is a collaborative effort featuring Laibach (original music) and actors and co-creators. The performance,  staged at the historic Kostanjevica church, will offer the interpretation of Nietzsche as a radical and original thinker oriented towards the future.

Opening night: 15 March 2016 at 8 pm
Repeat performances: 16 – 29 March 2016 at 8 pm

Staged at the monastery church in the Božidar Jakac Art Museum / Kostanjevica na Krki

TICKETS
Sales points: Eventim
Sales over the internet: www.eventim.si
TIC Novo mesto: (Monday – Saturday), tel.: 07 393 92 63; the Božidar Jakac Art Museum, Kostanjevica na Krki: 1 hour before the show
Information: vstopnice@antonpodbevsekteater.si, 051 316 166 (Mitja)
Ticket prices: 12 €; 10 € for groups, 8 € for pupils, students and pensioners

“No longer will my spirit walk on worn-out soles.” Friedrich Nietzsche

The philosophical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which is considered a seminal philosophical work, written by the controversial German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, one of the most praised, yet also one of the most suppressed and scorned philosophers, has gone through numerous musical (Richard Strauss) and literary adaptations ever since its creation (1883–1885). Nietzsche’s Zarathustra, which was written over a period of two years at different locations between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, reflects the philosopher’s spasmodic and sharp style of writing, which may at times come out in short bursts or it may be spread out in prolonged flourishes and digressions whereby it might be possible to throw the interpretative matrix over the entire horizon of his thought. In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the director Matjaž Berger and the co-creators have elected to “walk” the line of Niezsche’s bridge between animal, man and overman. In doing so, they have affirmatively mapped out the intimate path of the performance in the direction of man’s inner transformation. Zarathustra, who “rechristens” the Christian commandment of loving one’s neighbour into “love of the furthest”, is, according to Nietzsche, someone who teaches people and encourages them to constantly surpass (overcome) themselves, recognizing and pursuing volition itself whereby strength must be found and recognized. According to Nietzsche, the human being is always an “over-going”: a bridge and not a goal, a rope over an abyss seeking companions – fellow creators to share and create with – along its path. Willing emancipates: for willing is creating.

“This is now my path, where is yours?” Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

CAST:

Laibach
Pavle Ravnohrib
Jana Menger
Joseph Nzobandora
Ana Pandur Predin
Janez Hočevar
Jure Rovan
Barbara Ribnikar
Lana Voljč

Director: Matjaž Berger

Text adaptation: Eva Mahkovic and Andreja Kopač

Music: Laibach

Dramaturgy: Andreja Kopač
Choreography: Jana Menger
Costume design: Peter Movrin in Metod Črešnar
Projection mapping: Gangl Production
3D animation: Tomislav Gangl and Jaka Kotnik
Proofreading: dr. Jože Faganel
Stage design: APT
Assistant director: Tjaša Črnigoj
Dramaturgy assistant: Nastja Vidmar
Lighting design: Simon Žižek
Sound design: Uroš Bon
Video design and design of printed materials: Gašper Brezovar
Assistant lighting designer: Srečko Malovič
Prop master: Matej Korbar
Dresser: Nataša Recer
Stage managers: Andrej Berger, Mitja Sočič
Project leader: Andrej Berger

Production: Anton Podbevšek Teater
Co-production: The Božidar Jakac Art Museum, Kostanjevica na Krki; in cooperation with the production company Eurokaz, Zagreb and Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana

Acknowledgement: Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, Gorazd Kosmina, Gorazd Canić, the Novo mesto Sports Agency, the Sports Museum, the Gimnazija Novo mesto Grammar School, the Center Primary School, the Sokol Bežigrad Sports Club