Simon Mayer
Sons of Sissy
“This is a man we should keep in mind!” Die Presse
After Falter magazine listed Simon Mayer’s solo performance SunBengSitting in its end-of-the-year review as one of the top theatre productions of 2014, describing it as an “ingenious, nakedly yodelling interplay of folk and contemporary dance”, Simon Mayer is now back on the brut stage with his new group performance Sons of Sissy. In the focus is that universe of traditions, folk dances and folk music from which the Upper Austrian country lad Simon Mayer originates. In an experimental manner, four performers and musicians make use of traditional alpine live music, various group dances and ritualised practices. Liberating them from conservativism and conventions, they establish an unseen fusion of artistic re-interpretations and temporary social attributions of meaning. Defying categorisation and pigeonholing, the Sons of Sissy do everything they can to live up to their name as they conduct themselves as part weird folk-music quartet, part experimentally playful ritual dance combo, using humour to radically disrupt the hackneyed male role models in old traditions.
Simon Mayer works as a performance artist, choreographer and musician and is one of the artistic directors of the Spiel art festival on the organic farm Schlossergütl in Upper Austria. Most recently, he toured numerous venues in Europe with his piece SunBengSitting. http://simon-mayer.tumblr.com
Idea, choreography, performance, music Simon Mayer Performance, music Matteo Haitzmann, Patric Redl, Manuel Wagner Special instruments Hans Tschiritsch Stage and costume design Andrea Simeon Light Martin Walitza Sound Rene Ringo Grömer Artistic consultant Frans Poelstra Production Sophie Schmeiser, Elisabeth Hirner
A co-production by Kopf hoch, brut Wien, Gessnerallee Zurich, zeitraumexit Mannheim and Tanz ist Dornbirn. With the kind support of the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arts Division and the Culture Division of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, Kulturland Oberösterreich, Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Pianofabriek Brussels, WP Zimmer Antwerp, im_flieger, Kunst- und Kulturverein SPIEL. Thanks to Simon Zöchbauer, Julian Rubisch, ALMA ( Marlene Lacherstorfer, Julia Lacherstorfer, Evelyn Mair, Marie-Theres Stickler), Godi Burgstaller, Chris Standfest, Andrea Amort, Munderfinger Goaßlschnalzer, Altstädter Bauerngmoa, Pramtaler Volkstanzgruppe, Elio Gervasi/Raum 33.
Simon Mayer - Sons of Sissy (Teaser) from brut Wien on Vimeo.
Simon Mayer - Sond of Sissy (Teaser 2) from brut Wien on Vimeo.