Forced Entertainment

Under Bright Light

Duration approx. 75 min.

Language English 

Under a sky of cool white light six figures in identical blue overalls get to work shifting tables, chairs, ladders and cardboard boxes. Things go from one pile go to another, and from there to another and from there to yet another. Boxes are stacked, tables set down, chairs shunted and then carefully placed. The figures work with determination, heads down, no nonsense but despite their best efforts the task is somehow never completed.

Forced Entertainment’s “Under Bright Light” is a Sisyphean slapstick, a warehouse somewhere in a cartoon hell, a brash video game on a broken loop. Glitch by glitch, error by error, subversive move by subversive move, the machine goes wrong, descending into chaos, reinventing and transforming itself in unexpected ways.

With direction by Tim Etchells, performance by the core group of Forced Entertainment and an original soundtrack by artist and composer Graeme Miller, “Under Bright Light” is Forced Entertainment at its uncompromising best; a dark and unsettling successor to the group’s acclaimed recent works “Real Magic” and “Out of Order,” which have together consolidated the ensemble’s reputation for producing compelling, intimate and highly political work from unexpected materials whilst maintaining a commitment to exploring new performance and theatrical forms that both challenge and connect deeply with audiences.

 

Cast

Conceived and devised

Forced Entertainment

Director

Tim Etchells

Performance

Robin Arthur, Jerry Killick, Nicki Hobday, Claire Marshall, Cathy Naden, Terry O’Connor

Input

Nicki Hobday

Lighting Design

Nigel Edwards

Composition

Graeme Miller

Stage Design

Richard Lowdon

Production Management

Jim Harrison

Technical Management Touring

Alex Fernandes

Further Information

Visitor note

Production: Forced Entertainment. Co-production: HAU Hebbel Am Ufer, PACT Zollverein (Essen), Künstlerhaus Moustonturm (Frankfurt a. M.).

Past dates

  • Cancelled

    Tue 28.4.

    from 20:00 to 22:00 HAU2

  • Cancelled

    Wed 29.4.

    from 20:00 to 22:00 HAU2

    Notes: After the performance: Artist Talk

  • Cancelled

    Thu 30.4.

    from 20:00 to 22:00 HAU2

  • Thu 31.3.

    from 19:00 to 20:30 HAU2

Location

HAU2
Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 Berlin

There are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2.