Identical twins Iola and Anest live together in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire in a house by the sea. Old age has a firm grip on Iola in particular; she has dementia and is increasingly losing touch with reality. Sometimes she hides money in the teapot, sometimes she aggressively goes after her twin sister for being away too long. In a lucid moment, Iola writes a suicide note to Anest's daughter Menna, who arrives immediately to prevent the worst from happening. When she arrives, however, she finds the house empty, and a large-scale search operation begins. In the process, Menna meets her childhood friend, the policewoman Gerry - a reunion with unexpected consequences. And finally, the pair of twins abruptly reappear.
The German-language premiere of "Meeresgabe" by Welsh author Tim Price is presented in translation by Michael Raab, who also dramaturges this production and says of the play, which premiered in 2011 at London's Donmar Warehouse: "With "Meeresgabe" I wondered, even on first reading, where the author drew his inspiration for it in the first place. The scenes of the twins underwater are lyrically condensed and elegantly rhythmic in a way that few other English-language playwrights can write. And the passages set in the domestic sphere develop an atmospheric pull all their own, offering the director far greater scenic possibilities than I'm usually used to from Anglo-American texts."
It seems remarkable that a young male playwright like Tim Price approaches the subject of dementia from a female perspective. Dementia is coming more and more into focus as society continues to age. Almost every family has those affected by it, and dealing with those who are ill presents itself as a task for all age groups.
Text source and further information about this event: http://www.gallustheater.de/2018/09/meeresg.php
