Midsummer Nightmare: Folkloric Accounts of a Death – An Experimental Theatre Exhibition in Vienna

This production, 'Midsummer Nightmare,' presents folkloric accounts of a death, framed as an annual village theatre performance with a Japanese Kurosawa-inspired twist. The story revolves around differing recollections of a hunter's demise, with the narrative presented in English with a distinctive village accent.

Midsummer Nightmare is an annual village theatre production, this year reimagined with a Japanese Kurosawa-inspired aesthetic. The performance explores folkloric accounts of a death, centering on a hunter whose demise is remembered differently by various characters, leading to a quest for truth. Although the characters speak with a village accent, the play is performed in English, reflecting an effort towards internationalization and the concept of a 'global village.' The narrative begins with a familiar rural tale of a hunter, a forest, and a beautiful animal, but quickly delves into the subjective and conflicting memories surrounding the hunter's death, where each version is presented as undeniably true, prompting the need for a resolution. The production is a coproduction between toxic dreams and the Volkskundemuseum Wien (Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art). The creative team includes Yosi Wanunu as text and director, Kornelia Kilga and Camilla Henrich as producers, with contributions from Michael Strohmann, Didi Kern, Susanne Gschwendtner, Tobias Resch, Anat Stainberg, Florian Tröbinger, and Markus Zett, among others. The performance is scheduled for June 23-28, 2026, at the Volkskundemuseum Wien in Vienna.

Admission is 'Pay as you wish!' Ticket reservations can be made via the provided registration button. The performance takes place at the Volkskundemuseum Wien.