Zero / Nulis

Duration: 60 min

Language: English

Suitability: 16+

Group: NULIS Company

Country: Lithuania

Performers: Gabrielė Penčylaitė

Team: Gabrielė Penčylaitė (author of the idea), Aistė Rekašiūtė (director), Dominykas Matulionis (playwright), Guoda Korsakaitė (set designer / costume designer), Rugilė Lepšytė (assistant set designer), Severija Bružaitė (makeup artist), Thomas Toppler (mentor of bouffon), Gonzalo Villareal Porzio (mentor of bouffon), Rigas cirks (co-production), Laura Vansevičienė (photos)

Description: Bouffon performance “Zero/Nulis" is an innovative performing arts project that introduces the genre of buffoonery, which is still relatively unknown in Lithuania and Europe. The performance questions nowadays's society's relationship with materialism, consumerism, workaholism, and the constant pursuit of productivity, which leads to burnout and a loss of happiness. The buffoon, an outcast of society, observes people's lives grotesquely and humorously, as if from the outside, recognises the absurd rituals of everyday life, mocks politicians, corporations and even cultural institutions, and invites the audience to rethink their choices. The audience becomes the most important characters in the performance—their behavior patterns and reactions are reflected on stage, and the performance itself is created as a live dialogue with the audience.

Buffoonery (it. buffone - fool) is a genre of physical theater, comedy, and contemporary circus that has existed for more than 500 years but is still virtually unknown. Buffoons, being outcasts of society, use mockery and insults to reveal the vices and injustices of society, and can therefore be called ""moral scales."" This project not only highlights sensitive issues in contemporary society, but also introduces the audience to a unique, previously unused theatrical genre.