Der Soldat – ein Übergangsritual

The Black Artist as Soldier: A provocative interrogation of the theatre industry after Frantz Fanon – with drums and accordion.

For representation and resources he is given a weapon and learns that the liberation of the occupied is the terror of the occupiers, even in the arts. But is cultural struggle war? Few have written as clearly about violence in a fragmented world as Frantz Omar Fanon, whose 100th birthday would have been in 2025. The anti-colonial thought leader was convinced that the dehumanisation caused by European colonialism could not be overcome through compromise, but solely through its destruction. Fanon's justification of anti-colonial violence was embraced by leftists worldwide, from the Black Panther Party to the RAF, and is still the subject of controversial debate today. When and in what context is it necessary to organise violence or defend it? ‘Der Soldat’ (The Soldier) links the world of theatre with the insights of this psychiatrist and Marxist from Martinique, who first fought in the French army against Nazi Germany, then later on in the Algerian liberation movement. On stage, the Black artist relives his transformation into a soldier. He looks for his relationship to violence in the interplay of language and the physical power of percussion. The provocative analyses and accordion songs that emerge from artist, curator and budding group analyst Julian Warner, together with the rhythms of Markus Acher, create a highly topical, shrewd and thrilling evening for critical theatregoers and music fans, for Fanon nerds and newcomers alike.

Duration: 50 minutes (an additional 60-minute discussion as part of the performance)

Language: German, English, and French with respective translations in German, English, and French subtitles

Concept, Performance, Music: Julian Warner
Music & Live Drums: Markus Acher
Voice: Veronica Burnuthian
Dramaturgy: Veronika Maurer
Technical Support on tour: Simon Vorgrimmler
Lighting, Technical Support: Dennis Dieter / Dita Kopp
Artistic Production Management: Sabine Klötzer
Translations: Veronica Burnuthian, Anna McCarthy

A production by Studio Julian Warner in co-production with Belluard Bollwerk, Kaserne Basel, Donaufestival Krems, Burg Hülshoff – Center for Literature, Theater RAMPE (Stuttgart), Münchner Kammerspiele, studiobühneköln. Made possible with a cultural funding contribution from the Canton of Fribourg.