Fear Industry

32 Operatic Acts for Stage and Real Life

We would like to inform you that the director Achim Wieland will stage the performance «Fear Industry» in the English language in Cyprus.

This new performative work intertwines traditional theatre with elements from opera to project concepts of real and imagined fear perceived in today's society. The performance staged with 2 actors, 1 soprano, a live musician and playback sound compositions from Händel, Purcell, Schumann, Pärt, proposes a "living archive", combining personal stories, analytical context, and historic speeches in a unique theatrical work of art. The performance sheds light on the origins of fear and the social, political and cultural motivation for its amplification and manipulation.

"The dangers of modern life captivate people’s imagination. Sociologists call the phenomenon risk society, describing cultures increasingly preoccupied with threats to safety, both real and perceived". (Julie Hanus, author of Cure Ignorance).

With award-winning actor Marios Ioannou and Elena Kallinikou at the theatrical core, supported by the internationally renowned sopranist Marianna Suri, the team of performers, artists, dramaturgists, and musicians elaborate on the theme of fear in a unique operatic and visual context.

Fear of crime has left us in pieces, but now we fear anything from killer bees to drug abusers, wild fires to pedophiles, deadly diseases, online spying, the avian flu, old age, mad cows, immigrants, anthrax, wrinkles, environmental collapse, and—let us not forget—terrorists. What is new is that “…there is not a single fear that defines our era (…), while our parents feared together, you and I have a more isolated, private experience. We fear on our own.” (Frank Furedi, author of Culture of Fear: Risk-Taking and the Morality of Low Expectation and Politics of Fear.)

The premiere will take place in Limassol on the 28th of May 2014 at Rialto Theatre and more performances will take place in Nicosia and Paphos during Autumn.

In 2015 the performance will travel in Europe to Amsterdam, Athens, Zurich, Berlin, London and Madrid.

Achim Wieland (Direction), with Marios Ioannou, Elena Kallinikou (Performers), Marianna Suri (Soprano),
Annini Tsiouti (Piano), Sossee Eskidjian (Set,Costume), Giorgos Lazoglou (Light Design) and others.

In English