THEATRE KAYONAN Geneva, Switzerland

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER Samuel Taylor Coleridge directed by Yvan Rihs with Douglas Fowley Jr based on an idea by Joy Kundig

Administration Théâtre Kayonan / 10 avenue Giuseppe-Motta / 1202 Geneva, Switzerland www.douglasfowleyjr.com / [email protected]

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Poem Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem was the harbinger of a new era in 18th-Century English literature, a signal shift to modern poetry and British Romanticism. This strange, profoundly disturbing narrative is the tale of an old mariner’s supernatural journey after his inexplicable killing of the mythical albatross. According to legend, albatrosses incarnate the souls of deceased sailors. When an albatross is killed, the entire crew must suffer the consequences. In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Coleridge ingeniously expresses the tangibly horrid in captivating, sensual, rhythmic language. The Challenge A particularly rigorous approach is necessary when presenting a work of such epic proportions in a solo performance. How does one communicate the essence of a tale seemingly so far removed from contemporary life? Yet Coleridge’s uncanny poem touches upon some of the fundamental concerns of our modern world. This prophetic myth deals with questions of personal responsibility, awareness, civic involvement and the role of each man and woman in the troubled waters of contemporary society. How does one communicate this poem, this “albatross” from another era, in our accelerated cyber world? The Concept A man lighting his way with an old lantern moves silently through the room. 3 wooden stools covered in black sit on an otherwise empty stage from whence he will relate the ancient mariner’s improbable tale. The actor-cum-mariner attempts to capture our attention with the sense of urgency only a man in exile burdened by his past can feel. He struggles with his words and explodes into movements imposed by the very structure of the poem. His body runs, twirls, dances, moves slowly, stands still; he relives his tale as he tells it, remembering all before his audience. The play, like the poem, is a sharing of human knowledge, a quest for truth with the pains, twists, turns and doubts that this implies. The Music The vocal subtlety and refined pianistic expression of Chloé Lévy and Yannick Délez’s album Leinicha enhance the mysterious transcendental atmosphere of the play.

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Who are we ? Desirous of exploring beyond the allegorical approach to theatre developed through his work with mask and shadow play, and to deepen his experience as a stage actor working with written text, Douglas Fowley Jr. founded Theatre Kayonan in Paris in 1987. The first production was an original performance inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, created in collaboration with the Lebanese-American actress Theresa Amoon, French dancer and actress Paty Soegeng, and actor Daniel Limoges from Quebec. The company relocated to Geneva, Switzerland in 1990 where it presents works by Englishlanguage authors such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, Oscar Wilde, William Yeats and others. The plays are presented in French and/or English to the international audience. Theatre Kayonan has toured Switzerland, France, the United States and Canada. It creates intimate theatrical events and plays close to the audience. One-man shows, small casts, minimal décor, subtle music and lighting… the success of Kayonan’s work hinges on the actor’s presence and performance, the director’s vision, musical composition and interpretation, and of course, the author’s words. Be it comedy, tragedy or both, this simplicity of approach provokes a strong actor-spectator relationship and enhances both audience pleasure and its perception of the theatrical arts. Theatre Kayonan works with a variety of directors, writers, actors and actresses, depending on the nature of each project.

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Curriculum vitae / Yvan Rihs, the director Director, playwright, actor Yvan Rihs (born in 1972) is an active protagonist in Geneva theatre. He has participated in the creation of numerous productions with Théâtre Spirale since 1997, including: -

Man Equals Man / Berthold Brecht / Théâtre de Carouge (2004), dramaturge and actor; La Cantate Des Berceuses / Théâtre de la Parfumerie (2002), actor; Sortir De L’ombre / Théâtre de la Parfumerie, Franco-Swiss Tour (1999-2000), co-author, assistant director; The Émigrés / Slawomir Mrozek / Théâtre de la Parfumerie (2000), assistant director; Geneva Cantonal Day Expo ’02 (2002), assistant director.

He has also directed teen theatre workshops participating in the creation of: Twelfth Night; Year Nine Are Animals; A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Yvan Rihs participated in the creation of diverse urban installations with the Troupe de Janvier: En Rade (1997), L’Observatoire (1997-1998), Delits De Fuite (1999). He holds a Bachelor of Arts (French Literature/Dramaturgy) from the University of Geneva and was awarded the 1999 Hentsch French Literature Award for his is dissertation on author/poet/playwright Armand Gatti. He conceived and directed Purgatory quartet, an opera composed by Xavier Dayer based on William Yeats’ Purgator, for the European Contemporary Music Festival in Basel (2001). Mr. Rihs directed the Haitian company Zepon’s production Express Partout touring Switzerland (2004) and Haiti (2005). In 2005 he also directed Relais written and performed by Patrick Mohr at the Théâtre de la Parfumerie for the 6th Annual De Bouche à Oreille Festival followed by an international tour (2005, 2006, 2007). He directed Benjamin Knobil and Olivier Yglesias in Velère Novarina’s L’Inquietude at the Théâtre de la Parfumerie (2006). He directed Valère Novarina’s L’Opérette Imaginaire as a workshop project for pre-professional Geneva Conservatory drama students (2007). In 2008 he directed Charles Dickens Great Expectations (a Theatre Kayonan production) at Geneva’s Am Stram Gram Theatre and the Théâtre de la Parfumerie. Swiss tour (2009) He created the dramaturgy for Andrea Novicov’s version of Georg Buchner’s Woyzeck (Angledange Company). Franco-Swiss tour (2009): Maison des Arts de Thonon, Forum-Meyrin, Arsenic Theatre, Théâtre B. Besson, TPR In 2009, he directed a workshop creation of Evgueni Schwartz Dragon at the Théâtre de Carouge. Yvan Rihs has taught text analysis and dramaturgy for pre-professional drama students at the Conservatory of Geneva as well as conducting theatre workshops for teenagers (E. Schwartz Dragon and Roi Nu, X. Durringer’s Chroniques, P. Weiss’ Mockinpott, R.W. Fassbinder’s Bouc, C. Serreau’s Quisaitout, H. Levin’s Funérailles d’Hiver) since 2001. He has performed with directors Richard Vachoux (Musset’s On Ne Badine Pas Avec L’Amour at the Théâtre de l’Orangerie), Patrick Heller (Belbel’s Après la pluie at the Théâtre du Galpon), Michele Millner (Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Théâtre de la Parfumerie), as well as with Lorenzo Malaguerra (Schnitzler’s Une Ronde)

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Curriculum vitae / Douglas Fowley Jr actor / artistic director Theatre Kayonan, Geneva, Switzerland nationalities USA, Irish, Swiss / born September 30, 1947 / bilingual English & French Studies, Training & Workshops: ARTO / BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER / EARTHLIGHT THEATER / INTERNATIONAL DANCE SCHOOL SERGE GOLOVIN / FOOTSBARN THEATRE / ZIGMUND MOLEK GROTOWSKI LABORATORY DAVID HYKES / ODIN TEATRET / PETER BROOK: LES RENCONTRES AUX BOUFFES DU NORD THEATRE RAGA / THEATRE SERAPHIN / BALINESE THEATRE TOPENG & WAYANG KULIT voice and translation for fictional, documentary, institutional, television et independent films member VPS/ASP (Swiss Professional Speakers Association) 2010 co-director KALAVRITA OF THE THOUSAND ANTIGONES by Charlotte Delbo / Ph. Campiche Company actor SONGE D’UNE SŒUR by Jean-Michel Wissmer / dir. Roberto Salomon actor ... AND ADAM by Jelena Dincic (film) / dir. Jelena Dincic actor HAMLET by William Shakespeare / dir. Yvan Rihs / prod. Théâtre Kayonan actor THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER / dir. Yvan Rihs / prod. Théâtre Kayonan 2009 actor GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Charles Dickens / dir. Yvan Rihs / prod. Théâtre Kayonan actor HAMLET by William Shakespeare / dir. Yvan Rihs / prod. Théâtre Kayonan 2008 actor GREAT EXPECTATIONS / dir. Yvan Rihs / prod. Theatre Kayonan 2007 actor FRANKENSTEIN SUPERSTAR / dir. Gabriel Alvarez / prod. C.I.T.A. 2006 actor A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens / prod. Theatre Kayonan 2005 actor LA NONNA by Roberto Cossa / dir. Gabriel Alvarez / prod. C.I.T.A. actor/storyteller L’HISTOIRE DE FIONN Irish mythology / Festival Bouche A Oreille, Geneva performance DEAMBULATIONS AU FORUM / Festival La Bâtie, Geneva performance L’ARMOIR A BLAGUE / Geneva 2004 actor THE PEARL by John Steinbeck / dir. Marcel Robert co-prod. Theatre Kayonan - Théâtre St-Gervais Genève 2003 actor LE CHANDELIER by Giordano Bruno / dir. Gabriel Alvarez / prod. C.I.T.A. actor EN ATTENDANT GODOT by Samuel Beckett / dir. Michel Faure, Marcel Robert performance SUNSET BOULEVARD / prod. Theatre Kayonan 2002 performance LE MINOTAURE by Dürrenmatt / dir. Cyril Tissot, Festival de la Cité, Lausanne actor LA CANTATE DES BERCEUSES / dir. Michèle Millner, Théatre Spirale performance GZION by Hervé Blutsch / dir. Gerald Chevrolet / prod. Maisons Mainou, Geneva actor HIGHWATERS EVERYWHERE (film) / dir. Brian Baxter performance L’ARMOIR A BLAGUE / Expo ’02 / Switzerland 2001 solo performance PURGATORY by William Yeats / dir. Yvan Rihs / Europäischer Musikmonat, Basel actor SONGE D’UNE NUIT D’ETE by William Shakespeare / dir. Michèle Millner, Théâtre Spirale 2000 actor OH, LES BEAUX JOURS by Samuel Beckett / dir. Marcel Robert / prod. Théâtre de Séraphin performance PEER GYNT by Ibsen / Orchestre Suisse Romand performance LE MINOTAURE by Dürrenmatt / dir. Cyril Tissot, Centre Dürrenmatt, Switzerland 1999 acting director / teacher L’ETAT DE SIEGE by Albert Camus / Ecole R. Steiner, France solo performance OSCAR WILDE, SACRIFICE / dir. Marcel Robert prod. Theatre Kayonan - Théâtre St-Gervais Genève / Montreal, Canada 1998 director SOUFFLE an original piece / prod. Theatre Kayonan - Théâtre St-Gervais Genève performance CHARLES ROLLIER Exposition / Musée Rath, Geneva acting teacher Le Théâtre d’Ici / La Grange au Lac, Evian, France public speaking teacher / 12ème Conférence mondial sur le SIDA, ONUSIDA, Geneva acting director / teacher LE RAMAYANA (Hindu epic), International School, Founex, Switzerland 1997 solo performance OSCAR WILDE, SACRIFICE / dir. Marcel Robert prod. Theatre Kayonan - Théâtre de Séraphin / Festival La Bâtie, Geneva, KulturKasern, Basel voice & movement workshop / Hôpital psychiatrique de Marssens, Fribourg, Switzerland acting director / teacher LES SORCIERES DE SALEM by Arthur Miller / Ecole R. Steiner, France 1995/96 acting director / teacher PEER GYNT by Ibsen / Ecole R. Steiner, France actor / marionettes MACBETH by William Shakespeare / dir. Marcel Robert prod. A.R.T.O. – Théâtre St-Gervais Genève direction and interpretation Marcel Robert, Théâtre Séraphin, France, Switzerland, Germany actor LA PETITE NUAGE / dir. Mas Soegeng, Théâtre Spirale solo performance OSCAR WILDE, SACRIFICE / dir. Marcel Robert prod. Theatre Kayonan / Théâtre St-Gervais Genève / San Francisco, France, Switzerland

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