According to reviewer Meinhard Rüdenauer, the Antwerp-born director, performer, and visual artist Jan Lauwers has brought the multidisciplinary collective Needcompany to ImPulsTanz in Vienna with two distinct programs. Founded in Brussels four decades ago alongside fellow artists, Needcompany operates as a multilingual, open-thought creative collective spanning performance, theater, visual arts, music, and literature.
Needcompany Explores Colonial History at the Akademietheater
Under a concept developed by Grace Tang, the ensemble staged The Garden of Earthly Disquiet at the Akademietheater, as reported by critic Meinhard Rüdenauer. According to the review, a small ensemble performed with overarching playfulness while addressing the painful subject of children forcibly separated from their mothers during the colonial era, mirroring historical actions taken by the Belgian colonial power.
Did you know? Jan Lauwers founded Needcompany in Brussels four decades ago with a vision to merge multiple artistic disciplines—including theater, visual arts, and music—into a single multilingual framework, a structure rarely seen in Austria’s traditional arts scene according to Meinhard Rüdenauer.
Bridging Social Critique and Nonsense in the Odeon
At the Odeon venue, Needcompany presented the Needlab program, featuring excerpts from current productions and offering insight into the collaborative processes of the performer community, according to Meinhard Rüdenauer. The critic notes that while these performances consistently take serious, socially critical topics as their starting point, the hectic darstellerische Ausgelassenheit (performative exuberance) can rapidly shift into nonsensical play.
Pro Tips for Experiencing Multidisciplinary Performance Art
- Embrace the shift: Be prepared for performances that pivot rapidly from heavy social critique into playful absurdity.
- Look for layered storytelling: Multidisciplinary collectives like Needcompany often weave visual art, music, and text simultaneously to convey historical and emotional themes.
- Engage with open-thought concepts: Allow room for multilingual and non-linear narratives when viewing contemporary experimental theater.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Needcompany?
According to Meinhard Rüdenauer, Needcompany is a Brussels-based creative collective founded four decades ago by Jan Lauwers and peers, dedicated to multilingual, multidisciplinary works encompassing performance, theater, visual arts, music, and literature.
What themes does Needcompany address in its current programs?
As detailed in reviews of their ImPulsTanz appearances, the group addresses serious social critiques, including the historical separation of children and mothers under Belgian colonial rule, alongside broader explorations of performer community workflows.
Where did Needcompany perform during their recent Vienna engagement?
According to critic Meinhard Rüdenauer, the company performed The Garden of Earthly Disquiet at the Akademietheater and showcased excerpts from current productions through the Needlab program at the Odeon.
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