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Where and why does violence arise? With its stunning images and sound, Romeo Castellucci’s Bros shows how the most brutal violence may arise without any identifiable evil.


In this work from Castellucci, twenty-three non-professional actors play the leading role alongside three professional performers. They wear American police uniforms and receive instructions via an earpiece. All of them have signed a pact in which they agree to comply. Without knowing what will happen in advance, they perform actions not of their own choosing, without being able to foresee the consequences. This results in a hallucinatory series of shocking situations.


Castellucci is known for the indelible images in his work that stick with audiences. His great feel for beauty grates against the heavy social issues he addresses. The group of policemen in Bros are reminiscent of Buster Keaton’s Cops but are nothing to laugh about. Castellucci raises questions about violence through a series of tableaux vivants. By mixing images from pop culture, Christian iconography and mass media, he presents a razor-sharp reflection on society in the form of a fascinating trip that is part silent film, slapstick comedy and current-day imagination.


Romeo Castellucci:

‘The artist’s task is to compose an aesthetically problematic image. The spectator’s task is to “look”, and only this verb calls upon spectators to make moral choices that question them personally.’


This performance contains scenes of violence and high sound volume.


For Bros the Holland Festival was looking for male actors. The application period has now ended.


PROGRAMME BOOK

  • Romeo Castellucci, director

    © Luca del Pia

  • © Jean-Michel Blasco

  • © Jean-Michel Blasco

  • © Jean-Michel Blasco

  • © Luca del Pia

  • © Luca del Pia

  • © Luca del Pia

  • © Luca del Pia

  • © Luca del Pia

credits

concept Romeo Castellucci direction Romeo Castellucci music Scott Gibbons cast Valer Dellakeza, Luca Nava, Sergio Scarlatella, and with men from the street collaboration in dramaturgy Piersandra Di Matteo assistant director Silvano Voltolina, Filippo Ferraresi banners written by Claudia Castellucci technical director Eugenio Resta stage technician Andrei Benchea light operator Andrea Sanson sound technician Claudio Tortorici costumes Chiara Venturini stage sculptures and automations Plastikart studio costume creation Grazia Bagnaresi translation Latin Stefano Bartolini production management Benedetta Briglia production and tour Giulia Colla promotion and distribution Gilda Biasini organisation Caterina Soranzo technical headquarters team Carmen Castellucci, Francesca Di Serio, Gionni Gardini administration Michela Medri, Elisa Bruno, Simona Barducci economic consult Massimiliano Coli production Societas coproduction Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Printemps des Comédiens Montpellier, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Maillon, Théâtre de Strasbourg – Scène européenne, Temporada Alta, Manège Maubeuge, scène nationale transfrontalière, Le Phénix, scène Nationale Valenciennes, MC93 — maison de la culture de Seine-Saint-Denis Bobigny, ERT Emilia Romagna Teatro Italy, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen, Holland Festival, Triennale Milano Teatro, National Taichung Theater

This performance is made possible by