the exact position of things

"If you have a lot, not just one piece, but more of the same, what would you call that?"
"A collection?"
"A collection? No, not exactly".

"When you see so many people on top of each other, how would you call that?"
"A meeting?"
"No, not a meeting."
"A group?"
"Not that either."


(From: Der Tag, der in der Handtasche verschwand, a documentary by Marion Kainz / WDR)

THE PERFORMANCE

She is present, but can no longer focus her thoughts. the exact position of things explores the disorientation of a woman who no longer remembers her own name. She survives by clinging to familiar rituals. The performance explores a constant loss of grip on reality. Words lead a life of their own, the search for meaning is in vain. Actions are repeated and the slightest change exposed.

the exact position of things is a dark performance with no centre, always moving forward into the next moment. Reminiscent of work by Beckett, it is not only existentialist and probing but also liberating. The question Beutler poses: can the loss of all knowledge bring freedom? With subtle humour, she leads the audience into the inner world of a person with Alzheimer’s, where the familiar becomes alien, and the alien appears familiar.

This Nicole Beutler classic from 2005 marks the origin of the distinctive signature of this ‘visual artist in theatre’. The delicate dissection, the ‘looping and scratching’ of images, movement, language and light began with this performance. the exact position of things was nominated for the BNG Theatre Makers’ Award and named by theatre magazine TM as one of the best dance pieces of the season. In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Nicole Beutler Projects, the performance returns to the stage with the original cast.

Nicole Beutler on the exact position of things in 2005:

“Don’t we all hold on to the familiar for fear of the unknown? What are you afraid of? What’s your logic? Art takes its inspiration from the flaws in society. Imperfection is what moves me. Awkwardness, a person’s vulnerability. People with Alzheimer’s in a home are trapped in a space as they are in their own brain. My character never stops asking questions. She’s clinging on and that’s reflected in her body. It leaves a deep impression – sad, but also funny sometimes. Bodies full of stories, that’s what I want to see.”

THE BOOK

"The exact position of things" is accompanied by a book of the same title containing photographs by Nicole Beutler and text fragments from various sources. It is a (utopian) attempt to archive, categorise and make sense of a continuously volatile present. The book is handed out to the audience before and after performances of the exact position of things as an independent, but parallel, work. Published by LISA and Spring Festival, Utrecht.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read the programme booklet online

INFO

Duration: 50 min
Language: English / German with Dutch surtitles

CREDITS

Concept/choreography
Nicole Beutler
Made in collaborations with the performers
Hester van Hasselt, Esther Snelder

Music
Gary Shepherd in collaboration with Wouter Snoei

Lichting design
Minna Tiikkainen
Dramaturgy
Robert Steijn, Igor Dobricic

Book design
Connie Nijman
Drawing
Nicola Unger
Scene photography
Anja Beutler
Thanks to
Uta Eisenreich, Felix Ritter, Paz Rojo, Yriänä Ranka
Coproducers 2005
LISA, Springdance Festival
Coproducer for the remake 2019
Theater Malpertuis
Supported by
FAPK (Den Haag), VSB-Fonds
Acquisition & tour planning: Theaterzaken Via Rudolphi

reviews