Felix Baumann

STAND UP

“STAND UP” (WT) is part of a longterm research and creation project investigating the art of comedy and humor from an interdisciplinary and movement oriented approach. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of stand-up comedy styles, humorists, comedians and clowns from the 20th and 21st centuries, aiming to distill the essential principles of humor, the comedic effect, and the cathartic function of the joke.

Based on the outcome of this research the aim is to develope a concept and dramaturgy of a performance, which plays with the different principles of humor and deconstructs the traditional standup setup by using elements of dance, physical theatre and circus instead of the spoken solo performance.

In this work Felix Baumann explores humor and play as universal means of cultural and social practice, critique, and catharsis and uses the tool of the body in action to express the paradoxes and absurdities of everyday life.

PARTNERS & SUPPORT

Thanks to the following institutions for providing rehearsal space and residential support: Tanzfabrik Berlin e.V. (DE) - in the frame of the program "Kultur Räume Kontingente" (KRK), a measure of the Kulturräume GmbH sponsored by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe. As well as Studio Tambour Berlin (DE).

The first conceptual preparation phase (February - June 2023) was funded as part of the wider research project "Homo movens ludens" by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in the program NEUSTART KULTUR, aid program DIS-TANZEN of Dachverband Tanz Deutschland.

A first insight into the development of the concept and the dramaturgy of the piece was given in form of a work-in-progress-showing on the 13.5.2023 at the "No Elephants! Festival at the E-Werk Freiburg (DE). Many thanks to Stefan Schönfeld for the invitation.

Premiere is planned for 2024.

STAND UP