About the ensemble
An expressive juggler, a melancholic clown, and a “contemporary oddball.” These are the exact words German crossover artist Matthias Romir uses to define his unmistakable style. He has loved the stage since childhood, grew up at European juggling festivals, and made his debut as a solo performer at the age of thirteen. Although he originally studied special education, his passion for performance ultimately prevailed, and he threw himself fully into the world of the arts. He is a die-hard self-taught artist who masterfully combines precise juggling, object theater, and dark grotesque. Throughout his prolific career, he has toured with the legendary Tiger Lillies’ Freakshow, regularly performs in variety shows, and brings his unique, slightly bizarre style to a range of multi-genre projects.
About the production
This performance is like a really good cup of coffee—bitter as life, black as the future, but for some twisted reason, you’ll absolutely love it. Schwarz is a bittersweet and uncompromising exploration of the soul of a clown teetering on the very edge of the abyss. Here, Matthias Romir brings the art of failure to absolute perfection.
The main character on roller skates wages a futile battle against his own desire to possess something, and even something as innocent as an ordinary helium balloon takes on an ominously grotesque tone in his hands. What begins as a playful situation smoothly shifts into a touching yet utterly absurd story of unconditional love. Expressive juggling clashes sharply here with naive mask play and deeply depressing clowning. The result is a strange mishmash of emotions that will unmistakably get under your skin. It maintains a balance on the fine line between sadness and joy, but above all—it’s hilarious.
The performance is presented with the support of the Czech-German Future Fund. Thank you!
