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Theater maker Milo Rau: "A mythical, powerful, controversial theater festival"
Photo: Gian Ehrenzeller / KEYSTONE / picture alliance
At the moment Milo Rau is still engaged as the artistic director of NTGent.
The Swiss has been in charge of the venerable theater in the heart of the Belgian city since 2018.
Upon inauguration, he promised a theatrical revolution.
In the style of the Danish "Dogma" filmmakers, he wanted to bring political, innovative and explosive material to the stage and have it brought to the stage according to a "10-point plan".
Critics could not always recognize the subversive aspects in the works.
Now it has been announced that Rau is to become director of the Wiener Festwochen.
The multi-genre event, held in May and June, features theatre, opera and dance productions.
Apparently, with the occupation of Rau, 46, they also want to ensure that the festival weeks should radiate socio-political relevance.
Vienna's City Councilor for Culture, Veronica Kaup-Hasler, says about the appointment: "As a politically thinking artist, Milo Rau works in various areas from theater to opera to film and has excellent international networks.
As a result, there is once again a radiant artistic personality at the head of the Wiener Festwochen.«
And Rau also dutifully referred to his role as a guarantor of explosiveness in a first statement: »I can hardly wait to continue the great tradition of the Wiener Festwochen and to create a mythical, powerful, controversial theater festival.
It should be a festival week together with everyone and for everyone: a polyphonic, formally diverse, passionate and combative world theater.«
After an international call for applications, 36 applications were submitted, which were viewed by a selection committee.
Five applicants and one applicant were invited to discuss their concepts.
Two of them eventually made it to the finals;
City Councilor Kaup-Hasler then made the final decision in favor of Rau.
Christophe Slagmuylder is still responsible for the Wiener Festwochen 2023, the 2024 festival edition will then be artistically put on its feet by Milo Rau.
His contract with Vienna runs for five years.
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