The 2nd self. A dream fragment by Walter Benjamin
CAST
Puppets, puppeteer: Frank SoehnleProduction: Enno PodehlMusic: Stefan MertinChoreography: Karin Ould ChihSpeaker: Christian Glötzner
ABSTRACT
Walter Benjamin’s manuscript material on the subject of “dreams” contains the text Das zweite Ich – eine Sylvestergeschichte (The Second Self – a New Year's Eve Story) from 1930. It describes a man, Krambacher. On New Year’s Eve, fleeing from his loneliness, he finds himself in an ambiguous restaurant with a Kaiserpanorama. There, in 12 scenes, he is shown a journey through the old year. The pictures turn out to be twelve missed opportunities, forgotten intentions, and repressed desires. The twelfth scene ends with the deafening ringing of the New Year’s bells. Krambacher wakes and has never left his room.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The German puppeteer Frank Soehnle founded the independent touring theatre figuren theater tübingen with Karin Ersching in 1991. Since then, he has made guest appearances worldwide, with solo and ensemble productions. With a voice from offstage, the production Das 2te Ich opens up spaces for speechless encounters of the most diverse kinds: Encounters between human and puppet actors, original and likeness, reality and dream. In a timeless space, wishes and memories, fears and fantasies meet.
Photos: © figuren theater tübingen, Julia Pogerth