Roman Škadra: GIREVIK

Roman Škadra will wrestle with metal weight training equipment instead of beer barrels in the castle**1**s Museum Court courtyard. What better place to do battle with hypermasculinity?

A stylishly dressed man manipulates thirty iron kettlebells. He struggles with his clumsiness, transforming his body into a completely new form with every movement. The result is a fragile, never-ending composition that symbolises tension and collapse. GIREVIK challenges the classical hyper-masculine aura around the kettlebell, seeking instead an alternate poetics of physical exertion. GIREVIK fights the strongman archetype with all its might and tries to bring it to its knees. This work probes not only the strength in us, but in our nature. An exploration of subtlety, it sets out to uncover the emotional, intellectual and psychological aspects of fitness equipment and searches for an alternative poetics.

Running time: 60 mins

Suitable for: 8+

CREDITS

Author and performer: Roman Škadra

Sound Design: Aleksandras Lempertas

Research Facilitation: Benjamin Richter

Movement Coach: Frank Kraft

Creative advice: Aleksandras Lempertas, Darragh McLoughlin, Claudio Stellato, Benjamin Richter

Stage Construction: Tomasz Bajszarowicz

Production: Anna-Katharina Andrees

Partners and Coproduction:

Cirqueon - Center for new circus Prague

SE.S.TA - Center for the Development of Choreography Prague

Supported by: Fonds Darstellende Künste, DE; Theaterhaus Berlin, DE; Schloss Bröllin, DE; Ringlokschuppen Ruhr Mülheim, DE; Jatka78 Prague

Roman Škadra (1985) is a Slovak juggler and circus artist currently based in Berlin. He studied Geography at Komenský University in Bratislava. In 2012, he moved to Berlin, completing his training in contemporary circus at Die Etage - Schule fürdarstellende und bildende Kunst. Roman’s work combines different techniques and explores the relationship between body and object. In recent years, his practice has moved from juggling to the manipulation of heavy objects. He collaborates with Benjamin Richter (a guest of KoresponDance in 2021) and is part of a movement of artists challenging the conventional perception of circus and creating works at the intersection of various art forms that are intended for presentation in diverse contexts. He draws inspiration from literature, visual art, sport and human labour. Absurdity is a central theme in his work and his performances are notable for their intense physical effort.