80*81

Around the world – A theatrical investigation with 20 performances

80*81 deals with what happened at the turn of the year 1980/81. For example, what did the Polish pope, AIDS, the peace movement, metrosexuality, Reagan, American Gigolo and the Green Party have in common? 80*81 is a year-long research project that aims to change our perception of history through artistic means. The initiators – writer Georg Diez and director Christopher Roth – are investigating contemporary history by means of pop culture – a task that requires collaboration with fine artists, filmmakers, musicians, comic writers, philosophers and historians. Their research focuses on the social developments of the past 30 years – beginning on New Year’s Eve at the turn of 1980/81. Every month, they will research in a “wandering” laboratory at a different location, e.g., in Johannesburg, New York and Shanghai. To ensure their research is visible to the public on a regular basis, they will work with director René Pollesch to produce short “theatrical performances of knowledge with play-like character”, which will be presented on location. These performances will provide the subject matter for a longer play with a clearly defined dramaturgical concept which will be presented at Kampnagel in Hamburg, the Staatsoper in Munich, and other venues. The results of the research will be collected in a specially designed “briefcase”. In cooperation with the Publishing House Verlag in Zürich, the organizers will publish a book each month containing material, story boards and interviews. All the material will be documented and made accessible via Internet. 

Artistic directors: Georg Diez, Christopher Roth
Participants / artists: René Pollesch, Chris Petit (GB), Slavoj Žižek (SI), Mei-lun Xue (CN), Dave Eggers (USA), Filipa César (PT), Jörg Koch, Enqi Bilal (F), Pierre Christin (F), Bob Last (GB), Patrick Frey (CH), Rufus Wainwright (USA), Jean-Pierre Gorin (F), Harry G. West (USA), Michael Taussig (USA), Mike Kelley (USA), Robert Longo (USA), Colin MacCabe (GB), Sophie Fiennes (GB) and others

Venues and schedule: Various locations in Berlin, Zurich, Hamburg, New York, Munich, Johannesburg and other cities, 1 Jan. – 31 Dec. 2010