Theatre
17.8.-23.8.2024
Kraftzentrale, Kraftzentrale, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

By Kirill Serebrennikov, based on motifs from Sergey Paradjanov

LEGENDE presents the world of the famous, in the West largely unknown filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. The dazzling multiplicity and surreal creativity of his films are an inspiration, most recently for superstar Lady Gaga. LEGENDE does not present the biopic of an important artist. Instead, Serebrennikov features Parajanov with poetic wit as the allegory of an artist, a poet, a wanderer, a fighter and a rebel. In ten legends, the kaleidoscope of his life between passion, eccentricity, beauty and oppression emerges, embedded in an infinitely rich cosmos of cultures.

2024 is the centenary of Sergei Parajanov. Born 1924 in Tbilisi, he grew up in the Soviet Union, where he became a film director, taking a stand in his life and his art against nomenclature and repression. As a result, he spent time in prison and hard labor camps and was banned from making films. A wide array of artists, including Tarkowski, Fellini, Antonioni, Godard, Kurosawa, Louis Aragon, Elsa Triolet, Françoise Sagan and Yves Saint Laurent, admired his surreally poetic works and called for his release from prison, in most cases to no avail. Parajanov died in 1990 in Armenia, just months before Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine gained their independence and the Soviet Union collapsed.

Co-produced by Ruhrtriennale, Thalia Theater and Kirill & Friends Company.

Audio introduction

Find out more about the the production in our audio introduction.

Cast

  • Written by
    • Kirill Serebrennikov
  • Translated by
    • Irina Bondas
  • Direction, Set Design, Costume Design
    • Kirill Serebrennikov
  • Composition and Musical Direction
    • Daniil Orlov
  • Choreography
    • Ivan Estegneev ,
    • Evgeny Kulagin
  • Choir director
    • Simon Jangulashvili
  • Lighting Design
    • Sergei Kuchar
  • Sound Design
    • Sven Baumelt
  • Soundscapes
    • Rustem Imamiev
  • Video Design
    • Ilya Shagalov
  • Dramaturgy (German)
    • Joachim Lux
  • Dramaturgy (Russian)
    • Anna Shalashova
  • Artistic Production Manager Kirill & Friends Company
    • Alina Aleshchenko
  • Associate Set Design
    • Elena Bulochnikova
  • Associate Costume Design
    • Clara Rosina Straßer
  • Costume and stage assistance
    • Elizaweta Veprinskaja
  • With
    • Filipp Avdeev ,
    • Odin Lund Biron ,
    • Campbell Caspary ,
    • Pascal Houdus ,
    • Felix Knopp ,
    • Nikita Kukushkin ,
    • Svetlana Mamresheva ,
    • Karin Neuhäuser ,
    • Daniil Orlov ,
    • Falk Rockstroh ,
    • Gurgen Tsaturyan ,
    • Tilo Werner
  • and as a special guest at Ruhrtriennale
    • Georgian State Chamber Choir (Trinity Cathedral Choir)
  • Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
    • Judith Humer
  • Assistant Artistic Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
    • Charlotte Wulff
  • Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
    • Darko Šošić
  • Technician
    • Christian Benz ,
    • Anne Gollasch ,
    • Carl Schenkel
  • Dressing, collaboration costumes
    • Daniela Bermudez ,
    • Eva Gamble ,
    • Dorothée Grohs ,
    • Sinja Höcker ,
    • Carmen Oertwig ,
    • Christiane Reinkober ,
    • Christiane Held ,
    • Manuela Heukamp ,
    • Rebecca Rühle

Visit

  • Language

    German with English surtitles

  • Supporters

    Funded by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). Funded by the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media).

  • Run time

    approx. 4 h min with intermission

  • Introduction

    An introduction will take place in the foyer of the Kraftzentrale one hour before the start of each event.

  • Advise on content

    The event will deal with suicide.

  • Sensory stimuli

    Some scenes take place partly in complete darkness.

  • Artist Talk

    Following the performance on Sunday, 18 Aug, we invite interested people to an artist talk with participants of the production.

  • Construction site information

    Due to bridge construction work, the A40 between the Duisburg motorway junction and the Kaiserberg junction in the direction of Essen will be closed until 19 August. Diversions will be in place from the Moers junction via the A57 and A59 motorways, the A42 and the A3. Visitors to the Ruhrtriennale must be prepared for increased traffic.  

  • A man in a white shirt plays the guitar, standing in front of a tree with colourful flags.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Frol Podlesnyi
  • A band in folkloristic dresses on a stage.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • A stage with a colourful troupe, in the foreground a person in a dress.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Frol Podlesnyi
  • A man with a naked upper body stands on a stage.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Frol Podlesnyi
  • The panorama of a stage bathed in atmospheric light.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Frol Podlesnyi
  • An elderly lady in a white dress and red scarf looks into the camera, smoking.
    LEGENDE, Kirill Serebrennikov © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2024
    • Hinweis: Geänderte Vorstellungszeiten!
    • Sign language translation
    • Bring Your Friends

    Einführung zu „LEGENDE“ in DGS

    Directions and arrival

    Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
    Emscherstr. 71
    47137 Duisburg

  • Public transport and KombiTicket
  • Directions
  • Travelling by bike
  • Accessibility at the venue

  • Access
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
  • Hearing support
  • Sign language translation
  • Festival team on site
  • Festival Stories

    Interview: Kirill Serebrennikov

    The world of Sergey Paradjanov