Stories of suffering

While his previous visits to the festival have featured works by Ibsen and Mozart, Voices was created from scratch in cooperation with the Betty Nansen Theatre in Copenhagen and the Bergen International Festival. In this modern passion – focused on man and not a religious figure – the suffering of seven people is narrated. Sharing their final hours we also share some of their memories and reflections. – These are stories about what is painful in the world, told in a simple way, not with big words. Like small poems, or a voice singing, very simple. A microcosm, says Bieito.

When his own father passed away, Bieito talked a lot with his physician. These conversations helped change how Bieto viewed his own mortality, and Voices includes an interview with a doctor. – I deal with death and suffering because it interests me. I have seen many people who suffer, and I think it is one of the most important themes in Europe today. We live in fear, but we need to understand there is also relief – a relief that comes from talking about our fears, he says.

Bieito admits his own fear of death, pain and suffering when it comes to his own family. But since this is a fear that no one can escape, he wanted to enter and work with the material artistically.  The director has said that with Voiceshe wants to help people come to terms with their own mortality.  – The audience may experience a sense of relief when they are presented with the painful as a part of our lives, says Bieito.