Roman Škadra: Absurd Hero

What is success? Is failure a state of mind? Can I find joy and happiness in my struggle? If the object doesn't care if I beat it, do I really beat it? "Absurd Hero" presents an aimless, madcap drama between man and object, a performer and a big, red, 25 kg walking ball. The hero is confronted with different game situations, which he can overcome only thanks to his perseverance. Inspired by the myth of Sisyphus according to Albert Camus, the circus is shown as a potentially joyful, yet endless effort.

"An all-encompassing and original research with the walking ball, which is not only used as a traditional circus device, but becomes a storyteller in the show itself." - Emilio Vassalli Prize (IT) "An excellent research and poetic language'' - Teatro San Materno (CH) "A very interesting work that combines the technique of the circus, the silent film and the flavor of Beckett's paralogy.'' - Between the Seas (GR)

----ROMAN ŠKADRA is a juggler and circus artist from Slovakia. In 2010, he completed a master's degree in geography at Comenius University in Bratislava. Since 2012 he has been living in his adopted city of Berlin, where he successfully completed training in contemporary circus at Die Etage - Schule für darstellende und bildende Kunst. The central theme of his interdisciplinary artistic practice is the relationship between his body and an object. In recent years, his practice has shifted from juggling to the manipulation of heavy objects. Roman sees himself as part of a movement of artist:s who challenge conventional perceptions of circus, creating works that stand at the intersection of different art forms and are presented in a variety of contexts. His research is inspired by visual art, sports, philosophy and human labor. In addition to his own work, Roman has worked with the juggling company Critical Mess led by Stefan Sing and is part of ''For As Long As We're Here'' by Squarehead Productions.

----ZEIT FÜR ZIRKUS (November 17-19, 2023) is the German counterpart to the French La Nuit du Cirque and aims to help contemporary circus gain more visibility in the cultural scene and beyond. The Germany-wide program is continuously updated.