Line Runner 2024 - Die Sicherheitsstrategie - Dystopia Comes to Life
Artist and author Stephanie Grünberger created a theater piece exploring the intricate dynamics of emotional opposites in a totalitarian setting. This thought-provoking production unfolds as an associative multimedia collage, drawing audiences into the complex interplay between two key figures: the "desk perpetrator" and the "escape seeker." These characters navigate their destinies within an oppressive system, caught in a vortex of perspectives leading toward an uncertain outcome.
The play was performed at the Carla Mittersteig in February 2025. Carla is inviting artists from time to time to perform in between all the second hand items they sell - like the awesome concert of Ernst Molden or literature readings from Anton Maria Moser and Tex Rabinowitz. I strongly suggest to subscribe to their newsletter to not miss these events!
More photos can be found at my Gallery Website.
The performance stages an intense confrontation between the desire for control and the pursuit of autonomy, set within dystopian surroundings where escape seems impossible. Thematically, the piece critiques neoliberalism, surveillance capitalism, and market radicalism while also addressing the overpowering influence of major corporations, Big Pharma, and the military-industrial complex. The protagonist, the "desk perpetrator," always stays one step ahead of the "escape seeker," embodying an opportunistic cycle of renewal.
Inspired by Peter Henisch’s novel Fluchtversuch, the text delves into the theme of self-loss. The production integrates extensive research and provocatively distorts contemporary Austrian and international political discourse through satirical references. This fusion of fiction and reality enhances the play’s critical depth, challenging audiences to reflect on modern societal structures.
The play’s uniqueness is delivered by the remarkable actor and producer David Czifer. His performance breathes vivid intensity into the roles, constantly switching from one role to the other.
David Czifer, LINE RUNNER 2024, Carla Mittersteig
Visually and sonically, the production features music by Hannes Bleiziffer and visuals by media artist Marcus Victor which create an immersive experience. The combination of electronic soundscapes and visual fragments from video art, computer games, film history, and documentary footage constructs a layered atmosphere that complements the dystopian themes.
In essence, LINE RUNNER 2024 offers an unsettling yet captivating theatrical journey—a precarious balancing act between dark humor, a powerful performance and a deep critique of contemporary socio-political structures. The production challenges its audience, making them active observers of a world where freedom and surveillance, retreat and entrapment, collide in an evocative spectacle. Seeing the two counterparts in such quick succession opens your eyes for the direct relations between the actions set by the two.
David Czifer, LINE RUNNER 2024, Carla Mittersteig
LINE RUNNER 2024
Length: ca 60 Minuten, Acting: David Czifer, Text/Directing: Stephanie Grünberger, Visuals, Light and Media: Marcus Saravia, Music: Hannes Bleiziffer, Production: STUTHE Studierende Theater
More photos can be found at my Gallery Website.
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