Designated as a piece of self-theatre, The Quiet Volume will occupy the space of the Library of the City of Culture using headphones. The “quiet volume” is a whispered, self-generated and automatic performance for two people in the reading room of a library. The piece explores the tension that characterises and twins libraries around the world: that state, a mixture of silence and concentrated reading, into which people dive when they read a book, each in an intimate manner, but in a public place. Two spectators/participants sit side by side next to a pile of books. They receive written and whispered instructions that will guide them on an enigmatic journey through the pages. Between the two of them, a dormant spell develops in the intimate and solitary act of reading a book, that now travels in silence from reader to reader.
Ant Hampton and Tim Etchells
Ant Hampton (1975) founded Rotozaza in 1998, a project which explores the use of instructions given to unrehearsed “guest performers”, directly on stage and in more intimate formats, in which the performers are the audience themselves (Autoteatro). Tim Etchells (1962) is a British artist and writer. He has worked in different fields and is the art director of Forced Entertainment. Throughout his career, he has engaged in performances, installations, videos and editorial projects, as well as dedicating himself to photography and to fiction literature. He has hosted shows at venues such as MACBA, Barcelona (2009), Göteborg Biennial (2009), Art Sheffield (2008) or Manifesta 7 (2008).
Cast & crew
English version voices: Ant Hampton, Seth Etchells, Jenny Naden | Artistic production: Katja Timmerberg | Recordings: Binaural TiTo Toblerone | Commissioned and produced by: Parallel Cities, mobile theatre festival curated by Stefan Kaegi and Lola Arias | General Director: Katja Timmerberg | Co-production HAU Berlin, Schauspielhaus Zürich | With the collaboration of: Goethe-Institute Warschau, Teatr Nowy and the Teatr Nowy Foundation | With the support of: Kulturstiftung des Bundes, the Swiss Cultural Foundation Pro Helvetia, Goethe Institute Buenos Aires | Co-production: Vooruit Arts Center, Belgium.