Songs of the Wayfarer

In the organizer's words:

A multidisciplinary performance from the perspective of Crip*, which invites you on a hopeful journey - enrapturing, humorous, between valleys and heights.

"I love transforming myself into a kind of four-legged creature. All those little places where you can squeeze the crutch into a crack or a corner. In Scotland we would say 'nooks and crannies'. I like to lose myself in this kind of game ... when the floor really becomes ... my companion." - Claire Cunningham

What does it mean to hike? To climb great heights? What can we learn from those who reach for the ground like four-legged creatures with crutches? What does this mean for the way we see our own lives, the path we walk? What do the maps that are redrawn in this way look like?

Guided by her own experiences as a disabled person, her memories of training as a classical singer, knowledge from the world of mountaineering and inspired by the sounds and dreams from Gustav Mahler's "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen", Claire Cunningham sets out in her solo to cross known and unknown landscapes. She navigates uncertain terrain with her crutches and leads us to the peaks and resting places of a very personal journey. With subtle humor, it is about scale, time and energy. About the importance of breaks. About moving on and recognizing when to turn back.

Claire Cunningham invites us to look carefully at how we move ourselves through the physical world while experiencing profound loss and change in our lives.

"Claire Cunningham's performance and vocals radiate a touching, melancholic atmosphere that leaves enough space for your own landscapes. She succeeds in creating a strong connection with and within the audience, a feeling that we are on a journey together - a hopeful journey." - the curators of the PERFORMING DEMOCRACY festival

*"Crip" is a political and cultural identity used by some disabled people to describe themselves and is also used by Claire Cunningham herself.

With

Concept & Choreography Claire Cunningham with Dan Watson & Luke Pell
Performance Claire Cunningham

Co-direction & dramaturgy Dan Watson
Dramaturgy Luke Pell
Set & costume design Bethany Wells
Lighting Design Chris Copland
Sound Design Matthias Herrmann
Video Design Michelle Ettlin
Artistic collaboration Julia Watts Belser
Subtitles Maria Wünsche (Panthea)
Production Nadja Dias
Project & Access Production Vicky Wilson
Production Management Sulie Wood
Programming Video & Projection Keir Martin
Company Stage Manager Dayne Cumming
Artistic Access Consultants Nelly Kelly, Panthea, Angela Alves, Rita Mazza, Naomi Sanfo-Ansorge
Consulting on mountaineering Cormac Lynch, Simone Kenyon
Administrative assistance (for HZT Berlin) Susanne Adam, Jeanette Gogoll
Audio description English script by Claire Cunningham
in collaboration with Julia Watts Belser, Luke Pell and Dan Watson, consulting & research support from Leo Naomi Baur & Fia Neises
Audio description German
Translation Maria Wünsche, recorded by Claire Cunningham
Language English spoken language, singing in German, German & English surtitles
Sign language interpreters (06.05.): Sarena Bockers, Dodzi Dougban

Accessibility:

Both performances take place as Relaxed Performances.
A retreat will be available before, during and after the performance.
Infopoint with detailed information on the sensory stimuli is located in the foyer of E-WERK.
Recorded audio description in German & English is available.
Free choice of seats.

More information on accessibility at E-WERK Freiburg can be found under the accessibility tab.

During the performance on Wednesday, May 6th , there will be a translation into sign language (DGS) by a deaf performer & a DGS interpreter.

In the run-up to the performance on Thursday, May 7, a tactile tour will be offered at 6:30 pm.
Please register for the tactile tour at: ottmann@ewerk-freiburg.de

Sign language interpretation provided by the Wilhelm Oberle Foundation.

Songs of the Wayfarer takes place as part of the PERFORMING DEMOCRACY festival.

Price information:

Admission 24€/9€ (reduced)