Land without words: questions and answers

UK PREMIERE

LAND WITHOUT WORDS by Dea Loher, Translated by David Tushingham

5^th – 30^th August 2009, Caves 2 – 12.20pm (50 mins)

Lydia Ziemke, Director, Land without Words, answers questions, by Jacqueline Sharp, Reviewer for Carrick Biz

Q  Was it hard for Dea Loher to create „a piece of fictional literature” about experiences in war zones?  Please explain how as Director, you put together Land without Words

A The fictional character in the play imagines herself as a painter, hoping that it will be easier to work through her experiences of Kabul, by creating pieces of visual art rather than with words. The playwright is effectively saying that it is almost impossible to write about those experiences, but that she is also compelled to do so.

In a speech in 2006, Dea Loher said she was overwhelmed by direct experience of the effects of war and was struggling to find words to describe it.

But she wrote this play and we have given it visual life.

Q You have done an amazing job, as Director.  I thought each individual could relate to the production, and could perhaps draw on their own personal experiences from the situation in Afghanistan, would you agree?

A We wanted to enable a lot of different associations by way of the interplay between the text and the physicality, sounds, music and the set on stage.

The text does not specify the number of speakers, although I feel the text implies it, but we decided it must be one person so that each individual audience member can put themselves in her place and identify with her in their own way.

Q         How did you choose Lucy Ellinson for the role?

A I was looking for an actress with a wider artistic background.

Lucy is a Performance artist. But it was coincidence: I saw her photograph, met her, we read the text together, I saw her in a different production and we decided to work together.

Q  I felt that the painter/sculptor  was going through an emotional journey similar to that of Dea Loher, would you agree?

A I don’t know that, we would have to ask her herself. But clearly the writer has made an effort to imagine the effects of such immense experiences on an artist.

 Q        So do you think Lucy expressed the emotions you talk about?

A Lucy speaks and enacts the text, and by that expresses the emotions we have felt are in those words.

Q          Lastly, where can people get more information?

A         Information is available on our website www.suite42.org