What is the difference between human and animal? Why were non-human species allowed to live in the Garden of Eden, but humans were thrown out? Can we ever go back? How could we become a post-human species?
The Labyrinth of Dr. Paradise is a physical theatre solo of performer Mauro Bernardi.
The performance is inspired by several sources: Jorge Luis Borges ́s short story
The House of Asterion, promotional texts about artificial but ethically problematic “clean”
meat produced from animal cells, and several religious texts. Through the character of
Dr. Paradise, who is an alter ego of the performer, we experience a story about a scientist
committing a hybris against the nature. Even if he tries to dedicate his life to make the world
a better place, in the end he must confront the consequences of his actions.
Personal story of the performer intertwines with the fictional story of the scientist to create
a piece that mirrors the life of an independent artist who don ́t want to compromise his
ideals. In the world threatened by climate change, the philosophy of posthumanism and
non-anthropocentric worldview offer hope for possible future. The concept of degrowth is
not applicable to our society if we refuse to give up some comfort we are used to live in.
And maybe respecting the other species more could bring us closer to paradise.
Performer: Mauro Bernardi
Script & dramaturgy: Otto Kauppinen
Scenography & costumes: Lenka Řezníčková
Direction: collective
Technical support: Andrea Gagliotta