The cell: an impressive play against partner power in Vienna

The cell: an impressive play against partner power in Vienna

in Vienna, the play "Die Zelle" is put into the spotlight, a moving work that addresses the audience directly with the help of its interactive approach. Emerged from the cooperation of the neighborhood project "Stop Partner Welft" and the director Constance Cauers, the play aims to raise awareness of the urgent problem of domestic violence.

The main character, played by actress Caroline Weber, is on stage alone in an almost empty apartment. The only remaining piece in the history of housing is a bag full of photos and records. With every picture that takes out and sticks to the walls, the painful story of her family, which is characterized by violence, unfolds. The apartment turns into an emotional mosaic of memories that the viewers moved deeply.

interactive participation of the audience

The play is listed in a small, narrow room where the spectators take a seat in a chair circle around the actress. This presentation promotes an intimate atmosphere that should address people of all ages. Director Constance Cauers emphasizes the importance of this proximity because the audience is actively involved in the events. This participation is intended to cause the feeling of social responsibility, which each individual has for the topic of violence.

The plot of the piece is profound and treats the intergenerationality of violence by showing how domestic violence is often passed on across generations. "It is a spiral of violence: women are stuck in the cell and are additionally stigmatized," explains Cauers. The basis of the piece is a monologue based on interviews with affected women. "This is real. Two women were ready to tell me their life stories," said the director. The figure of the daughter, on the other hand, is fictional to present certain emotions differently.

after the play: Open question and answer session