Germany – "The Years" by Marco D’Agostin
Marco D’Agostin returns to Germany with the show The Years, created with and for the dancer Marta Ciappina – the work that earned them both the prestigious recognition of the 2023 Ubu Prize: ‘Best Dance Performance’ and ‘Best Actress’ for Marta Ciappina (and it is the first time that a dancer receives an award in that category).
The Years is a co-production by VAN, that also involved, among others, ERT Emilia Romagna Teatro /National Theatre and Fondazione I Teatri Reggio Emilia / Festival Aperto, as well as the Emilia-Romagna Art Residency Centre L ’arboreto - Teatro Dimora | La Corte Ospitale.
The title of the performance alludes to Annie Ernaux’s novel of the same name and, ironically, to a Nineties song by the Italian pop music group 883. «It is the biographical story of Marta's life, but 're-invented'», says D’Agostin, «and which intertwines the years not only of her life but also the years of a certain moment in the history of Italy – and this is told through dance. The challenge of this work was to write a choreographic novel».
Between present and past, stories, songs, and memories flow into each other in “a creative explosion among dance, word and biography”. Marta invites the audience to play with their own memory, and the story of her life becomes the story of our life, of life, a “collective autobiography”.
The Years is on stage in Münster on January 20 and 21 (8 pm), guests of the Theater im Pumpenhaus.