Cutting Edge

Kalle Nio / WHS

Finland

---

Heads will roll! The visual inspiration for Cutting Edge comes from historical paintings of beheadings not only as tyrannical acts of cruelty, but also as acts of creation. What can be learned about humankind from these ultimate images of inhumanity? Is a person’s identity actually determined by their head? And why is sawing and reassembling the body such a popular activity among magicians? Full of black humour, this play deconstructs classic magician´s tricks. By simultaneously creating and destroying illusions, it moves between twisted magic show, baroque theatre, Grand Guignol, contemporary dance and the visual arts.

Founded by illusionist Kalle Nio, juggler Ville Walo and stage- and costume designer Anne Jämsä, WHS company has created a new kind of performance in which theatre, new circus and new magic are combined. There have been eight productions to date that fuse amazing illusions with video projections to create astounding dream imagery; these have already been shown at a number of international festivals.