Zentralfriedhof

Universitätsring 2

1010 Wien

 

Death is a mistake that Herbert Fritsch will devote himself entirely to in ZENTRALFRIEDHOF. Fritsch is interested in how to play dying correctly and why ghost trains exist. The Vienna Central Cemetery, which opened in 1874, is much more than a final resting place for Fritsch. Around two square kilometers in size, it is the second largest cemetery in Europe. So a parallel world opens up there. For him it is not about the many prominent artists, but rather about the idea of ​​the dead's own life in this place. Men and women, old people and children, people of all cultures, education or social backgrounds lie together here.

Herbert Fritsch approaches this community of the dead cautiously, full of tenderness. He doesn't want to talk about the dead anecdotally, but - who would have thought - funny. Fritsch looks for the comedy that we develop to hide our and his fear of death. Anyone who has attended funerals and memorial services knows what these gatherings have in addition to the tragic potential for comedy. Fritsch wonders how the dead communicate and how the “scheene Leich” – the pompous funeral – presents itself. And what life after death might look like. It would be nice if he could show us a way out.

 

(Source: burgtheater.at)