Looking for Paul

The REDCAT Theater in Los Angeles has invited Wunderbaum to create the performance ‘Looking for Paul’. “Paul” refers to contemporary American artist Paul McCarthy, of whom one of his sculptures can be found on the Eendrachtsplein in Rotterdam. The name of this work is Santa Claus – more popularly termed as ‘the butt plug gnome’ – and it led to fierce protest when it was unveiled in 2001. It was supposed to be placed on the Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam, but the butt plug gnome moved three times before it found its place at the current location.

In this performance, the Dutch Inez van Dam travels to Los Angeles, together with Wunderbaum, to take revenge on the famous ‘ketchup artist’…

By and with

  • Walter Bart
  • Matijs Jansen
  • Marleen Scholten
  • Maartje Remmers
  • Inez van Dam
  • Daniel Frankl

Set and lightdesign

  • Maarten van Otterdijk

Costume

  • Lotte Goos

Photography

  • Steven A. Gunther (scenes)

Production coordinator

  • Carry Hendriks

Past dates

  • August 2014

    23

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    22

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    21

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    20

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    19

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    18

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    17

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    16

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    15

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • August 2014

    14

    Edinburgh Festival
    Main Hall, Edinburgh (Schotland)

  • June 2013

    11

    Relations Festival
    München (Duitsland)

  • June 2013

    10

    Relations Festival
    München (Duitsland)

  • March 2011

    28

    Theater Rotterdam (voorheen Rotterdamse Schouwburg)

  • March 2011

    27

    Theater Rotterdam (voorheen Rotterdamse Schouwburg)

  • November 2010

    17

    Redcat Theatre
    Los Angels (USA)

“Part making-of documentary, part self-admonishing mea culpa, Looking for Paul is a fascinating thing to watch. Its narrative is as gripping as any soap opera, but it airs a host of knotty questions about the possibility and efficacy of arts funding, social democracy and cross-cultural values.”
Matt Trueman (The Financial Times)

“It is a slick, clever production that should not be missed.”
Alex Reeves (Broadway Baby)

“Wunderbaum remind us that the only art worth making is that which disrupts, challenges and tests artists and audiences – sometimes to the limits.”
Lyn Gardner (The Guardian)

“The piece is a highly entertaining, smart critique of pretentious, directionless performances and artists using real people’s stories to further their own self-interests.”
Sally Stott (The Scotsman)

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