KING SIZE

Born in Erlenbach, near Zurich, Christoph Marthaler worked as a musician in the 1970s and 1980s at several of the most important theaters in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. From 1988 to 1993 he worked on a permanent basis for Theater Basel, where he began his directing career, developing his very personal "Marthaler style," a completely new genre of musical theater. He directed, among others: _Ankunft Badischer Bahnhof _(1988), Stägli uf, Stägli ab, juhee! (1990), Prohelvetia (1993). With the production Murx den Europäer! Murx ihn! Murx ihn! Murx ihn! Murx ihn ab! his new form of theater and theatrical language becomes famous in German theater circles and then throughout Europe. Productions by the Volksbuehne Berlin and the Schauspielhaus Hamburg followed, including Goethes Faust - Wurzel 1+2. For his new, legendary interpretation of La Vie parisienne, Sylvain Cambreling develops a new orchestration with the Klangforum Wien. from then onward Marthaler and Cambreling will collaborate assiduously.

From 2000 to 2004 Christoph Marthaler was artistic director of the Zuerich Schauspielhaus; during this time the Schauspielhaus was twice elected "Theater des Jahres" ("Theater of the Year," the highest honor in the German theater world). He works for the Zuercher Festspiele on the world premiere of Invocation, a'opera with texts by Marguerite Duras and music by Beat Furrer; he also collaborates with Meg Stuart and Stefan Pucher for Das goldene Zeitalter, and continues to conducting for the Volksbuehne Berlin, Wiener Festwochen, Opéra Nationale de Paris and Opéra Bastille, Salzburger Festspiele, Theater Basel, Oper Zuerich, Teatro Real Madrid, and many others. His projects Das Theater mit dem Waldhaus and _Riesenbutzbach. Eine Dauerkolonie _were presented at the renowned Berliner Theatertreffen. In 2010 he is artiste associé at the Festival D'Avignon and directs Papperlapapp. His productions are in demand at festivals around the world.

Born to Bergen in 1979, singer and actress Tora Augestad studied classical music and jazz singing to Oslo and to Stockholm, focusing mainly on 20th- and 21st-century repertoire. During her studies to Berlin and to Munich she consolidated her interest in German music, before graduating in singing from cabaret at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. He is a regular guest performer atopera, Norwegian and European concert halls and theaters, alongside such musicians as those of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Ensemble Contrechamps, and Klangforum Wien.

In 2010 he worked for the first time with Swiss director Christoph Marthaler, in Beat Furrer'sopera musical theater _Wüstenbuch _(Klangforum Wien); from then Marthaler's presence will be a constant in his artistic life.

His versatility has inspired composers, theater directors, and conductors. In each of his works and in his collaboration with different ensembles Tora Augestad is always looking for new creative challenges and stimulating artistic exchanges.

Born to Flensburg, Bendix Dethleffsen studied music direction at the Musikhochschule in Cologne. He worked as assistant to Ingo Metzmacher at the Hamburgische Staatsoper conducting several productions of the Junges Forum Musiktheater. From 2001 to 2006 he was Kapellmeister (master conductor) of Aalto'sOpera in Essen and from 2007 to 2009 of the Kassel Staatstheater, for which he directed numerous productions of opera and dance. For the 2006 RuhrTriennale he was music director of Rubens (Esterhazy/Goebel/Stölzl, Musica Antiqua). Since 2006 he has worked as music director, pianist and actor with Christoph Marthaler in productions such as Maeterlinck (NT Gent), Wozzeck (Opéra National de Paris), _Riesenbutzbach - Eine Dauerkolonie _(Vienna Festival), Papperlapapp (Festival d'Avignon) and +-0 (Katuaq Nuuk/Vienna Festival/Volksbuehne Berlin). He regularly works alongside musicians such as Christoph Homberger, Jan Czajkowski and with directors such as Christiane Pohle.