The Exact Position of Things - Nicole Beutler
2005
If you have a lot, not just one piece, but more of the same, how would you call that?
*A collection?
A collection. No, not exactly.
When you see so many people on top of each other, how would you call that?
*A meeting?
No, not a meeting.
*A group?
Also not.
(From: Der Tag, der in der Handtasche verschwand, a documentary by Marion Kainz / WDR)
The Performance
the exact position of things explores the disorientation of a woman who no longer remembers her own name. She is present, but she is unable to focus her thoughts. The performance deals with a continuous loss of a grasp on reality and the attempt to survive by clinging to familiar structures. Each word takes on its own existence. Actions are repeated and expose the slightest changes. A consistent meaning can no longer be found. the exact position of things presents itself as a piece without center, always moving forward into the next moment.
the exact position of things was selected as one of the TOP 5 dance-performances of the season 2004/2005 in the Netherlands by the dutch magazine TM Theatermaker in June 2005.
The Book
A book with the same title the exact position of things containing photographs by Nicole Beutler and text-fragments from various sources, accompanies this new work. Its content proposes a (utopian) attempt of archiving, categorising and making sense of a continuously volatile present. The book is handed out to the audience before and after the performance as independent, yet parallel work to the live-performance. Published by LISA and Springdance/Festival, Utrecht.
This book is available at the following bookshops:
Nijhof&Lee, Staalstraat 13a, 1011 JK Amsterdam 020-6393294 www.nijhoflee.nl
ATHENAEUM BOEKHANDEL, Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam 020-6242972 www.athenaeum.nl
Boekie Woekie, books by artists, Berenstraat 16, 1016 GH Amsterdam, boewoe at xs4all.nl, www.xs4all.nl/~boewoe
ISBN 90-77546-02-2
The People
Concept/Choreography - Nicole Beutler
in collaboration with the performers - Hester van Hasselt and Esther Snelder
Sound - Gary Shepherd, Wouter Snoei
Light - Minna Tiikkainen
Dramaturgy - Robert Steijn, Igor Dobricic
Book - Connie Nijman
Photography - Nicole Beutler
Drawing - Nicola Unger
Production - Nanette Danckaarts
Press Photography - Anja Beutler
Many Thanks to - Uta Eisenreich, Felix Ritter, Paz Rojo, Yriänä Ranka
Co-production - LISA and Springdance/Festival
Made with the financial support of - Fonds voor Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten and VSB-Fonds
List of Performances
2006
17 June 06 Festival In-Presentable, La Casa Encendida, Madrid lacasaencendida
3+4 June LISA MEETS SOPHIE, Sophiensaele, Berlin
17+18 May Factory Season, Tanzquartier, Wien
25+26 April Brakke Grond, Amsterdam (unfortunately both cancelled due to family reasons)
20+21 April Bastard Festival, Theaterhuset Avant Garden, Trondheim
9+10 March Plateaux Festival, Mousonturm, Frankfurt
23 March Chassé Theater, Breda
22 March LAKtheater, Leiden
16 March Korzo Theater, Den Haag
14 March Kruithuis, Groningen
11 March De Nieuwe Vorst, Tilburg
25 February Verbeelding, Purmerend
22 February Huis van Bourgondie, Maastricht
18 February Provadja, Alkmaar
17 February Bouwkunde, Deventer
15 February De Harmonie, Leeuwarden
13 February Schouwburg Utrecht, Blauwe Zaal
10 February Gruitpoort, Doetinchem
2005
15+16 April Springdance/festival, Theater Kikker, Utrecht
10+11+12 March Lantaren/Venster, Rotterdam
22+23+24 February Something Raw Festival, Brakke Grond, Amsterdam - Premiére