VOLXOMMER

We are planning another milestone for the regional theatre concept in the Saalfelden Leogang region with the "VOLXOMMER" - Theatre Festival Saalfelden Leogang".

The "VOLXOMMER" festival is part of a comprehensive theatre concept that we have been gradually trying to implement in the region for three years. Our partners in this endeavour are the Freiraum Leogang cultural association, Kunsthaus Nexus and Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbH.
In the medium term, the producing and organising festival format should enable productions from the local independent scene, as well as international projects and collaborations. Programmatically, the concept of contemporary popular theatre will play a role. Inclusive theatre projects and references to nouveau cirque should gain in importance in the future. However, this will require a start-up phase with the necessary financial resources.

 

As a result, we are planning a broader programme for the region and an expansion of the festival.
In the first edition, we plan to organise the festival with three in-house productions. One new production and two revivals are planned.
This year, the focus will be on local author Peter Blaikner and the origins of European comedy.

 

1) "Deceived Deceivers"

• Comedy plays from the Middle Ages translated and adapted by Peter Blaikner
• Premiere: Thursday, 3 August 2017, 8 pm
• Village square Leogang
• (alternative venue in case of bad weather)
• Further dates in Leogang:
• 5/6/12/13/19 August, each at 8 pm

The play:

They want to act particularly cleverly and end up looking like fools themselves. They cheat someone and are cheated themselves in the process. You have a brilliant plan, but unfortunately - it goes wrong. This is the archetypal form of human ridiculousness, the stuff of comedy, liberating laughter about people who, in their exaggerated seriousness, only seem funny and become victims of their own incompetence.
Four French farces by anonymous authors from the 15th century have been newly translated, rewritten and modernised without changing their original mood. They sparkle with humour and poke fun at everyday comic situations. They deal with hypocrites, gamblers, businessmen, shysters, corrupt shepherds and, of course, time and again with wives and husbands who seek their fortune with their neighbours. Their spontaneous humour and surprisingly timeless originality are still effective today. Originating as theatre scenes for festivals and fairs, these are the first comedies of our culture, models for the great comedies of Europe. Humour is the last refuge of thinking people.

 

2) "Till Eulenspiegel" (revival)

• Children's musical by Konstantin Wecker and Peter Blaikner
• 4/11/15 August 2017
• Evening performances in Leogang
• Venue is not yet fixed

The play:

Who doesn't know him? Till Eulenspiegel, the medieval prankster who fooled half of Europe. In this turbulent musical by Peter Blaikner and Konstantin Wecker, he pokes fun at the Duchess of Zeckenburg, the landlady, the priest, the Minister of Health and, above all, the police commissioner of Wanzenreich, Gustav Höllriegl, who wants to catch him, whatever the cost. Because the law is the law! What's more, Till has fallen in love with Höllriegl's daughter Nele. That could be something! Even if Till Eulenspiegel is leading everyone around by the nose, he has his heart in the right place. He just wants us to laugh at him, because - laughter is the best medicine. Professor Doctor Genialo-Ratzeputz says the same thing. After all, it's better to simply laugh from the bottom of your heart instead of being annoyed to death. Till Eulenspiegel shows us how.

 

3) "Jeppe vom Berge" (Revival)

• Folk comedy by Ludvig Holberg
• German adaptation by H. Wochinz and H.C. Artmann
• 17/20 August 2017, 8 pm
• Leogang
• Venue not yet fixed

The play:

"Jeppe vom Berge" is one of the first socio-critical comedies in European theatre history by Ludvig Holberg - the "Danish Molière" in a modern guise. This baroque comedy, congenially adapted by H.C. Artmann, is full of biting mockery of "prevailing conditions".
Holberg took the material from the novel "Utopia" by Jakob Biedermann. The farmer Jeppe becomes a splendid comic figure, but one who never loses his tragedy. In the translation by H.C. Artmann in collaboration with Herbert Wochinz, "Jeppe" became a cult play at the comedy theatre at Porcia Castle. The ecce theatre has given the baroque comedy a modern twist and delighted audiences with performances in Salzburg and Ukraine.
Further projects in 2017

 

4) Establishment of a regular VOLXtheatre workshop in the region in cooperation with LAUBE Theaterwerkstatt and Kunsthaus Nexus. In this way, we want to ensure a continuous programme of workshops and drive forward the development of a regionally supported project - reinforced by external artists.

 

5) Guest performance "Schlafstörungen" at Kunsthaus Nexus in September 2017 "Schlafstörungen" is a co-production of the LAUBE theatre workshop with ARGEkultur Salzburg and the ecce theatre and is intended to show where the Saalfelden "VOLXtheaterwerkstatt" can develop after some time. The production provides insights into the lives of the residents of a large residential complex and into "Austrian soul life". The performance is complemented by songs from the Romantic period.

 

6) "The Wizard of Oz"

Adaptation of the family play by Lyman Frank Baum
With live music, acrobatics and drama at Kunsthaus Nexus Saalfelden from 12-15 December 2017 with four school performances and one evening performance
We are thus continuing our long-standing tradition of collaboration with Kunsthaus Nexus in the field of children's and family theatre.

Attention! With regard to the programme as a whole, it should be noted that there are still some unresolved funding issues. One or two projects may have to be removed from the programme. However, our assessment after years of experience is a cautiously optimistic one, especially as we can also rely in part on commitments from the project partners present. However, our tight financial situation does not allow for any economic adventures this year. We also see 2017 as a year of development and hope for increased cooperation and support from regional businesses and sponsors and, of course, a large audience!

Download:

volxommer-theaterfestival-saalfelden-leogang.pdf