Sons of Sissy

© Franzi Kreis

"This man should be remembered!"

Die Presse (Austrian Newspaper)

Falter magazine listed Simon Mayer’s solo performance SunBengSitting in its end-of-the-year review as one of the top theatre productions of 2014, describing it as an “ingenious, nakedly yodelling interplay of folk and contemporary dance”. In Mayer’s group performance Sons of Sissy the focus is on that universe of traditions, folk dances and folk music from which the Upper Austrian country lad Simon Mayer originates. 

In an experimental manner, four performers and musicians make use of traditional alpine live music, various group dances and ritualised practices. Liberating them from conservativism and conventions, they establish an unseen fusion of artistic reinterpretations and temporary social attributions of meaning. Defying categorisation and pigeonholing, the Sons of Sissy do everything they can to live up to their name as they conduct themselves as part weird folk-music quartet, part experimentally playful ritual dance combo, using humour to radically disrupt the hackneyed male role models in old traditions.

Idea, choreography, performance, music Simon Mayer
Performance, music Matteo Haitzmann, Patric Redl, Manuel Wagner, Simon Wehrli
Special instruments Hans Tschiritsch
Stage and costume design Andrea Simeon
Light Martin Walitza , Hannes Ruschbaschan
Artistic Guidance Frans Poelstra
Production Sophie Schmeiser, Elisabeth Hirner
Touring production Sophie Schmeiser, Hiros

A co-production by Kopf hoch, brut Wien, Gessnerallee Zurich, zeitraumexit Mannheim and Tanz ist Dornbirn.

© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Arne Hauge
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam
© Rania Moslam

With the kind support of the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arts Division and the Culture Division of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, Kulturland Oberösterreich, Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Kunstenweerkplaats Pianofabriek Brussels, WP Zimmer Antwerp, im_flieger, Kunst- und Kulturverein SPIEL. Thanks to Simon Zöchbauer, Julian Rubisch, ALMA (Marlene Lacherstorfer, Julia Lacherstorfer, Evelyn Mair, Marie-Theres Stickler), Godi Burgstaller, Chris Standfest, Andrea Amort, Munderfinger Goaßlschnalzer, Altstädter Bauerngmoa, Pramtaler Volkstanzgruppe, Elio Gervasi/Raum 33.


Tour Dates

Datum Stadt Location Land
02.03.2024 Paris Vivienne Westwood Fashion Show France
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