Artistic Direction: Robert Weschler

The Oklo Phenomenon is well-known, but only to a small group of people, namely, nuclear physicists. It describes a catastrophe which occurred on a scale modern man can hardly conceive -- a nuclear chain reaction which happened naturally in Africa long before man existed on this planet. Before it was discovered by French scientists in 1976, it was thought to be impossible. Not any longer.

Catastrophes are a natural part of the life of our planet. For humans who have lived through them, they can be the key to an awakening. Nothing really changes for us unless we are shaken to our bones and to truly change who we are we need a major catastrophe -- a bomb, an earthquake, anything!

But do we really need to die from this life to be reborn into the one we dream of?

This dance-theater piece uses live music, movement-controlled music, and movement controlled stage lighting to bring the audience to the edge of a cliff. The piece is concerned with catastrophes, dreams and the desire to be fully awake. It is, of course, about the catastrophe within. Perhaps a horrible theme, but it is told with a smile.

Palindrome has been working on “Oklo” since 2006. Its various parts have been developed separately and performed as separate pieces -- for example, the dream sequence “Mysterious Skin” is being performed this year at SEAMUS in the USA. Another section was made as a part of the Edinburgh festival in 2007.

The first Full Production of the finished piece will be premiered in amber’08 art and technology festival with the co-production of BIS, Body Process Arts Association.

team:
director: Robert Wechsler // production manager : Delphine Lavau // composer/musician : Dan Hosken // composer/musician (cellist) : Madeleine Shapiro // graphics // interactive engineering : Thomas Ploentzke // dancers : Allie Keppel, Aslı Oztürk, Ecem Alfan, Esra Yurttut, Jennie Gerdes, Jonathan Buckles, Lisa Stockinger, Munibe Millet, Serhat Kural, Yeşim Coşkun