CATERINA CORNARO

HISTORY Flöz has its roots in the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen, the only state-run training institute for theatre of body expression in Germany. In 1994 the first performance of the play ÜBER TAGE took place in the Great Hall of the Folkwang-Hochschule, followed in 1995 by the shortened version FLÖZ & SÖHNE. In 1996, the premiere of the play FAMILIE FLÖZ KOMMT ÜBER TAGE took place at the disused 'Hannover' mine in Bochum, a homage to the work culture and mining industry in the Ruhr region. The play was hailed by press and public as a great success and inspired the name of the group in 2003. Flöz is the name of a geological layer containing valuable raw materials. In 1998, the group produced its second show, RISTORANTE IMMORTALE, staged in the Maschinenhaus in Essen with a revamped ensemble. RISTORANTE IMMORTALE began its tour in Spain with three weeks of performances and became a guest at the Festival de Otoño in Madrid; in 1999 it was staged in Berlin for the first time. On the occasion of its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2001, the group gave itself the name Flöz Production, later transformed into the current Familie Flöz. In 2000 and 2001, the productions TWO% - HAPPY HOUR and TWO% - HOMO OECONOMICUS were created in Essen and Dortmund. The play TEATRO DELUSIO, which was staged for the first time in 2004 in the Arena Berlin, was again a great international success. In 2006, two new productions were born: INFINITA, the premiere of which took place at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, and HOTEL PARADISO, which premiered at the Admiralspalast in Berlin. The current version of HOTEL PARADISO was staged for the first time in the Theaterhaus Stuttgart in 2008 with a new company line-up. In the framework of 'Duisburg European Capital of Culture', the first version of GARAGE D'OR was staged in 2010 at the Theater Duisburg, and its Berlin premiere took place in 2011 at the Volksbühne. The second version of the play, which premiered in 2012 at the Theaterhaus Stuttgart, was recorded for the documentary Behind the Mask - The Theatre of the Familie Flöz (original title: Hinter der Maske - Das Theater der Familie Flöz) made by arte TV and WDR. The premiere of the film took place in Leipzig, during the euro-scene festival. In 2013, to enthusiastic response from press and audience and the Off Critic Prize, Festival d'Avignon, Flöz concluded its premiere at the Avignon Festival. November 2014 saw the release of the new production HAYDI!, which won the 2015 Monica Bleibtreu Award for 'Best Comedy'. At the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe HOTEL PARADISO performed for three weeks in front of sold-out theatres. Familie Flöz has to date toured with its plays in 34 different countries. APPROACH TO THEATRE Familie Flöz makes theatre using means that come 'before' spoken language. Every conflict manifests itself first of all in the body. Bodily conflict is the origin of every dramatic situation. All plays originate from a creative collective process, in which all performers also act as authors of figures and situations. In the course of several improvisations, the group identifies a theme, gathers dramatic material and discusses it at length, before bringing masks into play. Similar to a text, a mask carries not only a form, but also a content. The process of developing a mask, from the experimentation on stage to the actor/mask symbiosis, is decisive for the outcome. The fundamental paradox of the mask, i.e. concealing an animated face behind a static form and with it creating living figures, is a real challenge for the actor to take up. And not only for him. The mask comes to life first and foremost in the imagination of the spectator, who in this way also becomes its creator to a certain extent. Also receptive to the reactions of the spectators, with a critical eye always on his own work, all Flöz productions are often modified over time, thus developing their fullness and intensity.