Herta Müller’s Niederungen and The Dramaturgy of The Body Cover Image

Herta Müller’s Niederungen and The Dramaturgy of The Body
Herta Müller’s Niederungen and The Dramaturgy of The Body

Author(s): Jozefina Komporály
Subject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Fine Arts / Performing Arts
Published by: Universitatea de Vest din Timişoara
Keywords: Herta Müller; Niederungen [Lowlands]; stage adaptation; Mihaela Panainte; dramaturgy of the body; performance installation; autobiographical writing (for performance);

Summary/Abstract: This performance review discusses Mihaela Panainte’s innovative stage adaptation of Herta Müller’s visceral first book, premiered at the National Theatre in Iaşi. As an intimate studio piece, Niederungen [Lowlands] explores corporality in a mesmerizing installation that tests the boundaries of autobiographical writing in and for performance. Panainte’s production celebrates the precision of carefully chosen words and theatrical images, and foregrounds the universal potential of the source material, dismantling the illusion of innocence often associated with village life and defying nostalgic reminiscences of times and events past.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 8
  • Page Range: 165-170
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: English