16 April 2025
As part of the UNMASC! project, Kulturhaus Brotfabrik hosted an Open Lab Day – an opportunity for selected participants to step inside the creative process, witness work-in-progress, and directly influence the development of the performance. In Vienna, the Open Lab Day at Kulturhaus Brotfabrik welcomed a small but diverse group of participants who brought perspectives from theatre, choreography, feminist theory, and gender studies.
The day unfolded in two complementary parts:
- Showcase & Creative Insights: Participants were invited into the heart of the rehearsal process, where performers presented unpolished scenes from the evolving performance. The director and dramaturge shared the artistic vision, conceptual frameworks, and the unique Open Soul Method – a performer-centred approach that transforms personal stories into powerful, universal stage moments.
- Feedback & Exchange: The afternoon became a collaborative roundtable. Guided by targeted questions, participants offered reflections on clarity, thematic impact, artistic style, and the balance between irony, humour, and intensity. This was the first time the creative team received direct audience feedback, and every suggestion was carefully recorded to inform the next stage of development.
Participants recommended sharper, more decisive physicality in later scenes, more breathing space between spoken word segments, and an extended opening crying sequence for greater emotional impact.
The strong presence of the female performers was praised, particularly in the final scene on femicide. Suggestions included using colder, detached expressions to amplify the contrast and deepen the audience’s emotional response.
The playful, fluid approach to gender identity and the use of irony were well received, but participants cautioned against crossing into caricature. Some scene orders and transitions were proposed to be restructured for a smoother flow, and video projection integration was identified as an area for tighter connection with live performance.
The Open Soul Method – starting from movement and emotional exploration before building text – sparked curiosity and discussion. Performers shared both the freedom and the challenges of working with deeply personal material.
The Vienna Open Lab Day was not only a rehearsal but a co-creation moment. The insights shared will resonate in the final performance – making it sharper, braver, and more impactful when it reaches audiences later this year.
