Oleg Soulimenko
Made in Austria
“The expertly interwoven stories during this entertaining evening sharpen the view for prejudices, play with clichés, and question certainties. It’s a must go, especially for sceptics about Vienna.” Wiener Zeitung
“An original and pleasant performance.” Kurier
“With plenty of skill and tact, and without any frantic effort, Oleg Soulimenko elicits from his stars positive experiences in particular for this evening and thus facilitates a pleasant meeting for the audience. In doing so, Made in Austria undermines all xenophobic propaganda that stokes mistrust, either with a sledgehammer or with subtle tricks, in the ‘locals’ toward migrants.” Der Standard
Austria has been experiencing one of the largest waves of immigration since the beginning of the Second Republic over the past ten years. More than 40,000 immigrants settle here each year. They include asylum seekers, students, so-called ‘highly-qualified foreign workers’, family members, and especially EU citizens. In short performances, Made in Austria introduces people from all points of the compass and various cultural backgrounds who have made Austria their adopted home and who have mastered their lives here. The show presents their views of Austria and offers an ironic look at the personal search for fortune in one of the world’s richest countries. After the premiere in the rotating Donauturm Café as part of the Wiener Festwochen 2012, this time Made in Austria is turning its back on the periphery and is heading right for centre city, directly onto the stage at brut im Künstlerhaus. An Indian perfumer, a Philippine nurse, an English tree surgeon, an American pop musician, and others negotiate which role their new home plays in their lives and to what extent Austria’s culture and society have influenced their individual ideas of happiness.
On 1 February following the performance one of the performers, pop singer Lana Michelson, will be giving a concert.
Concept and artistic direction Oleg Soulimenko Artistic assistance Magdalena Chowaniec, Anna Mendelssohn Text and dramaturgy Rosemarie Poiarkov Dramaturgical advice Thomas Frank, Elisabeth Schack Video Elena Tikhonova Equipment and costumes Anke Philipp Production management Ela Piplits Guest assistant director Tina Sööt, Marijeta Bucic With Marcelo Abraham, Richard Dixon, Yasemin Kazanci-Friesenbichler, Yogesh Kumar, Lana Michelson, Frans Poelstra, Virginia Radl, Vetscheslav Seniugov
A co-production of Oleg Soulimenko/Vienna Magic, brut Wien, and the Wiener Festwochen 2012.
€ 14/€ 8/€ 6 with the brutkarte