"Schreibstück" by Thomas Lehmen (2002)

Premiere 23th of August 2002, Tanzwerkstatt, Berlin (D)

concept, author: Thomas Lehmen
visual design: Katrin Schoof
assistence: Ulrike Melzwig
project manager: Petra Roggel
choreographic collaboration: Marc Rees
concept, choreography: Thomas Lehmen
production: Thomas Lehmen and Petra Roggel
co-production: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - CAM/ACARTE, Lissabon (P),
thanks to Goethe Institut Lissabon
Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Tallinn (EE), thanks to Goethe Institut Tallinn
La Bâtie - Festival de Genève (CH), Podewil / TanzWerkstatt Berlin (D)
Supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Goethe - Institut Inter Nationes e.V. München.


Thomas Lehmen’s choreographic work tends continuously to circle around questions of presence, or how to overcome or transgress contracts of the stage, that is to say, to open the stage for a radically shared experience where life, art and reflection twine into questions of existence.
In his works "distanzlos" and "mono subjects" a play with context, and its relation to space and to-take-place has dominated his investment. Not, what in an expression that is actual or authentic, but what part of this actual or authentic different contexts play.
His motivation for "Schreibstück" was to separate conception, planning and tructural frames from the further elaborations of the work, in respect of choices relating as much to the stage as a "makro - dispositif". This process excludes the ‘metaphysical’ communication, the reliance on performers’ charisma or personality mythology, existing in between the conceptual process of the choreographer - the author function - and the performers who execute and interpret ideas and material.
In “Schreibstück” the author Thomas Lehmen hands over a script (written material) to three choreographers with three dancers each.
For the premiere in Berlin the script by Thomas Lehmen was adapted by the choreographers Mart Kangro (Tallinn), Martin Nachbar (Berlin) and Sónia Baptista (Lisbon) and presented on stage for the first time. The three versions are arranged in the form of a canon, so that they can be presented on one stage at the same time.
Considering the author’s rights, everybody is free to develop his own version and at the same time welcome to create a connection to two other existing versions.


„Schreibstück“ - Versions

1. Version Martin Nachbar, Berlin (D)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Sybille Müller, Lina Lindheimer, Lea Helmstädter
Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur

2. Version Sonia Baptista, Lisbon (P)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Sofia Gonçalves , Vania Rovisco , Joana Trindade

3. Version Mart Kangro, Tallinn (EE)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Marge Ehrenbusch, Margo Teder, Päär Päärenson

4. Version Liisa Pentti, Helsinki (FIN)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Giorgio convertito, Mikko Orpana, Liisa Risu
Production: Side Step Festival, Liisa Pentti + Co
Supported by Goethe Institut Helsinki

5. Version Klaus Jürgens, Nottingham (GB)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Klaus Juergens, Thomas Falk, Jens Biedermann
Production: Springdance/works Utrecht
Co-production: Hans Hof Ensemble Amsterdam
Supported by, Goethe Institut Amsterdam, Fonds voor Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten/HGIS-cultuurmiddelen, K. F. Hein Fonds

6. Version Pete Shenton, Amsterdam (NL)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Pete Shenton, James Flynn,Guy Dartnell
Production: Dance4 Nottingham and Springdance Utrecht

7. Version, Lissabon (P)
Premiere: 13.9.2003, CAPITALS, Lissabon (P)
Choreography, Text, Performer: Beatriz Cantinho / Herlander Elias / Nelson Guerreiro
Production: Gulbenkian Foundation, Lissabon

8. Version, Lissabon (P)
Premiere: 13.9.2003, CAPITALS, Lissabon (P)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: De Möbius
Production: Gulbenkian Foundation, Lissabon

9. Version, Lissabon (P)
Premiere: 13.9.2003, CAPITALS, Lissabon (P)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Miguel Pereira / Sofia Gonçalves
Production: Gulbenkian Foundation, Lissabon

10. Version Jonathan Burrows, Brüssel (BE)
Premiere: 7.10.2004 Kaaitheater, Bruessel (BE)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Jonathan Burrows, Mark Lorimer, Chrysa Parkinson, Claire Godsmark
Production: Kaaitheatre, Vooruit and Monty

11. Version Christine de Smet, Gent (BE)
Premiere: 7.10.2004 Kaaitheater, Bruessel (BE)
Choreography, Text, Performer: Christine de Smedt, Mette Edvardsen, Mårten Spångberg
Production: Kaaitheatre, Vooruit and Monty

12. Version Hooman Sharifi, Antwerpen (BE)
Premiere: 7.10.2004 Kaaitheater, Bruessel (BE)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Hooman Sharifi, Peder Horgen, Kyung-Sun Baek, Mari Matre Larsen
Production: Kaaitheatre, Vooruit and Monty

13. Version Daniel Safer , Witness Relocation Team (US/TH)
Premiere: 23.12.2005 “Fringe Festival”, Bangkok (TH)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Sean Donovan, Laura Berlin Stinger,
Sinlapin Tong-Aram
Production: Fringe Festival Bangkok and Goethe Institute Bangkok

14. Version New Dance Theatre Thailand Team (TH)
Premiere: 23.12.2005 “Fringe Festival”, Bangkok (TH)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Kanitsorn Youngprempri, Puttirak Throngklib,
Siriluck Throngklib
Production: Fringe Festival Bangkok and Goethe Institute Bangkok

15. Version Kamomlakoon Dance Troup Team (TH)
Premiere: 23.12.2005 “Fringe Festival”, Bangkok (TH)
Collaboration Choreography, Text, Performer: Thongchai Haannarong, Thammatat Keawprakiet,
Sorasak Tawanwongsri
Production: Fringe Festival Bangkok and Goethe Institute Bangkok