At today's press conference, Theater ecce impresario Reinhold Tritscher and the managing director of Europark, Christoph Andexlinger, presented the giant moving puppet that will be touring the country in the coming months. Gulliver will also be in Saalfelden Leogang from October 13th.
"Gulliver's Travels", the socially critical satire by Jonathan Swift, serves Theater ecce as a foil for a contemporary view of Salzburg. The figure of Gulliver as a placeholder for adventure travelers, tourists, poverty migrants, economic refugees, war refugees or artists on tour, guest workers and locals who feel "foreign" in their homeland.
Jonathan Swift divided his novel into four parts. The children's edition with the journeys to the land of the dwarves (Lilliput) and the land of the giants (Brobdingnag) is best known here. The journeys to the islands of Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdudribb and Japan as well as the journey to the Houyhnhnms (horses) are only familiar to a few. All the adventures have something in common: every one of Lemuel Gulliver's journeys begins with him being stranded in a world that is completely foreign to him and, inevitably, he is suddenly the stranger, the outsider, the intruder. Where are these "strangers" here in Salzburg? And who are they? Tourists, migrants, artists who perform here and sometimes even us, as "strangers in our own country".
"Despite all the social criticism - I also see 'Gulliver' as a poetic project. The character of Gulliver is meant to observe, to appear unexpectedly and to comment simply through his presence," says director Reinhold Tritscher. "At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the creator of our Gulliver, namely Alois Ellmauer. He is probably one of the best hidden artists in Salzburg, because hardly anyone is aware that Lois has worked for Julian Crouch's 'Everyman' as well as for Ilya Kabakov."
"Gulliver's Salzburg Travels" is conceived as a participatory annual project as part of Salzburg 20!6. In preparatory workshops, people from different walks of life, with and without disabilities, migrants and schoolchildren have so far developed their version of Gulliver.
From now on, "Gulliver" will be on the road in the city and province of Salzburg to observe current events. Cultural and social associations, companies, groups of private individuals who would like to invite Gulliver to an event, a fundraising campaign, or simply to a hike to the next village or to a cozy get-together are invited to contact Theater ecce. Requests from individuals who want to satirically point out grievances or special achievements are also welcome (contact: +43 / 664 / 57 40 703 or info@theater-ecce.com).
This "journey" of the Gulliver will be documented photographically.
Download:
Gullivers Reisen.pdf
