DAD LEFT

The Austrian ex-patriot Wolfgang Halper returns to his hometown of Bocksdorf, Burgenland in October 2017 to celebrate his 60th birthday with all his family members, friends, school colleagues and neighbours. 30 years ago he and his wife moved to Toronto, Canada to start a new life. He opened a woodworking business in the new country, a business that a trained electrician would not be permitted to start without intensive retraining in Austria.

In 2010, his wife grew tired of the monotonous life in the new country and migrated back to her home village of 800 people along with her two grown children. Wolfgang could not imagine permanently moving back to Austria since his lifelong dream of building a log cabin in the woods of Cottage Country had not yet been realised. A plan that would never come to be because Wolfgang passed away 5 days before his 60th birthday on Monday, October 23rd 2017. He suffered a fatal heart attack at his childhood home.

Inspired by the very personal experience with the death and funeral of her father, Victoria Halper's devised performance utilises the elements of essay films to pose questions about origin, the notion of home, following your dreams and absence: a reflection on what it means to leave and never come back. The performance will take place in english and german language.

Produced in co-operation with WERK X-Petersplatz.

Funded by the City of Vienna (MA7, Theater).

WRITTEN, DIRECTED, PERFORMED BY Victoria Halper

ROOM DESIGN Tamara Raunjak 

DRAMATURGY Philipp Ehmann

MUSIC AND SOUND DESIGN Kai Krösche 

VIDEOS Victoria Halper

COSTUME Alma Kugic

Premiere at WERK X-Petersplatz, Petersplatz 1, 1010 Vienna.

May 23rd, 2019 at 8pm.

Following dates:

May 25th, 26th, 28th, 29th.