Via Berlin is a musical theatre company that connects pressing social issues with art and live scientific research. Artistic leader and performer Dagmar Slagmolen explains what she envisions with Normality No More.
What role does Via Berlin play in the Normality No More performance?
‘Normality No More is a performance about neurodivergence and understanding, and the lack of understanding towards each other. Our brains work in diverse ways; how can we celebrate that diversity? Can we stretch the boundaries of what we now consider normal a little bit to make more people feel at home? In our present-day society, this is a major topical issue, and, pre-eminently, the kind of subject matter we, at Via Berlin, are dealing with. Our productions aim at arousing curiosity towards the other, and thus initiate a wider conversation.’
I hope to make people more inquisitive about the other. Dagmar Slagmolen (Via Berlin)
How do you go about it?
‘Via Berlin developed a method to intertwine live scientific research with our performances. In various ways, we bring our audience into contact with this subject matter. As far as Normal No more is concerned, it starts on arrival. Visitors are presented with questions such as: What is your view on the world? How do you view yourself? How do you assess the other? Are these criteria flexible? During the performance, I, as an actor, move among the dancers and the musicians. Sometimes I succeed in being a part of them, but mostly, I stay a maverick. In the monologues, co-written by Lucky Fonz III, I try to understand the world, what is considered normal behaviour. Sometimes I do that on my own, sometimes together with the audience.’
What do you hope the impact of the performance will be on the visitors?
‘I hope that they will leave the theatre differently from when they came in. More curious about the other. More aware of their own prejudices. I hope that the digital in-depth programme we developed, together with Stichting Cordaan, will achieve that, every now and again, they will still change their views in the days and weeks after the performance. Even when, on Mondays, they find themselves in the subway, on their bikes on their way to work, or at the supermarket. Our aim is that Normality No More will be the start of an inquisitive whirlwind that keeps blowing after the performance, and ignites many others, so that it will become more and more normal to appreciate and cherish each other’s peculiarities.’
Normality No More is the artistic product of a collaboration between Dagmar Slagmolen (Via Berlin), choreographer Davide Bellotta(Conny Janssen Danst) and Ragazze Quartet under artistic supervision of Ria Marks, with artistic advise by Conny Janssen.
> Normality No More is in theaters from December 14, 2024 untal April 6, 2025.
