‘Sketches of Crowd #8’ | dir. Gisèle Vienne | Playing with Kantor: France
In her 2017 performance “Crowd”, Gisèle Vienne observes a group of people gathered at a rave at night, as their repressed desires begin to surface. The artist creates evocative and insightful portraits, focusing on the emotional rather than literal experience of time by her characters. To achieve this, she draws on cinematic techniques such as looping, slow motion and acceleration.
Non-verbal performance.
Performance description
“Sketches of Crowd #8” is an intimate version of the acclaimed performance “Crowd”, adapted specifically to the space of Cricoteka. While this performance shares three performers with Crowd, it is a sort of negative of that work, marked by absence and the vital need for the crowd. All of Gisèle Vienne’s works are political, through their artistic and philosophical concerns, through formal exploration, and through their questioning of culturally constructed perception and its possible shifts. This work is a direct and visceral response to an immediate and profound pain—that of bodies hindered and constrained by politics and its systems of domination.
Gisèle Vienne
A French-Austrian choreographer, director, puppeteer and visual artist. Her body of work encompasses performances, often situated at the intersection of theatre and dance, as well as art installations, films and photography. In her performance practice, Vienne focuses on the materiality of human bodies and objects, the dialectics of presence and absence, and of the living and the artificial, tracing the desires and fears of childhood, adolescence and counterculture, while delving deeply into the subconscious of audiences. She is currently one of France’s most acclaimed and widely recognised directors, as well as one of the most unconventional artists in Europe. Her works are presented at festivals, theatres and galleries around the world, including the exhibition “Kantor. Vision Therapy” at Cricoteka.
Playing with Kantor: France
Gisèle Vienne launches this year’s edition of “Playing with Kantor”. What will our next journey in search of traces of Tadeusz Kantor in the work of artists from around the world look like? We will find out in September and November. Destination: France.
Once again, we return to “Playing with Kantor”, this time to explore three important figures on the contemporary French scene. This year’s programme focuses on the work of Gisèle Vienne, Philippe Quesne and Nach. Through their work, we will examine how Tadeusz Kantor’s art lives on in the works of contemporary artists in France. In this edition of “Playing with Kantor”, curated by Dorota Semenowicz, we want to ask not about the past, but about the present. Has France placed the Polish artist behind museum glass, or does he remain a living source of inspiration? We will reflect on this in September and November this year.
ACCESSIBILITY
The performance is non-verbal. The performance includes strobe lighting and loud music. The conversation with the director will be conducted entirely in English and will last approximately 30 minutes.
The nearest public transport stops are Korona (tram and bus) and Plac Bohaterów Getta (tram). Cricoteka does not have a car park for visitors. Two parking spaces for people with disabilities are located on Nadwiślańska Street, near the entrance from the Father Bernatek Footbridge side; however, the high kerb may make getting out of the vehicle difficult. If requested in advance, we can designate a temporary parking space in the square.
The most convenient entrance to the building is through the Cricoteka square. After passing through the glass doors, head towards the lift or staircase. The ticket office is located on level -1. Please go there if you do not have a ticket for the event or require additional information or assistance.
Creative team of “Sketches of Crowd #8”
Conception, choreography, scenography and dramaturgy: Gisèle Vienne
Assistant: Sophie Demeyer
Performers: Sophie Demeyer, Theo Livesey & Katia Petrowick
Music selections from: Underground Resistance, KTL, Vapour Space, DJ Rolando, Drexciya, The Martian, Choice, Jeff Mills, Peter Rehberg, Manuel Göttsching, Sun Electric et Global Communication
Edits, playlist selection: Peter Rehberg and Gisèle Vienne
Sound diffusion supervisor: Stephen O’Malley
Lights: Patrick Riou
Costumes
Gisèle Vienne in collaboration with Camille Queval and the performers
Technical coordination and stage-managing: Sara Ruiz Marmolejo
Sound manager: Adrien Michel
Light manager: Héloïse Evano
Character development texts: The performers in collaboration with Dennis Cooper and Gisèle Vienne
Production & touring: Paola Gilles, Raphaëlle Landré & Eva Pousson
Administration: Cloé Haas & Clémentine Papandrea
The production of this show was carried out by Alma-Office
Producer: DACM / Company Gisèle Vienne
The Compagny Gisèle Vienne is supported by Ministère de la Culture – DRAC Grand Est, Région Grand Est and City of Strasbourg.
The company is supported by Institut Français for international touring.
Gisèle Vienne is an associated artist at Chaillot – Théâtre national de la danse; at Volcan – Scène nationale du Havre, Théâtre National de Bretagne – Centre Européen Théâtral et Chorégraphique, and Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.
Playing with Kantor: France
- Type: Spektakle,Wydarzenia,Wyróżnione
- Time: 18/09/2026 - 18:30 - 20:00
- Venue:Sala Teatralna/Theatre Hall, Cricoteka, 2–4 Nadwiślańska, Kraków
- Duration:90'
