behind and afterwards
Is a man able to transform his self or does he remain himself in whatever role he plays? This question is on our mind every now and then. To an actress, a dancer or an opera singer it is of existential importance before they appear on stage. This process of assimilating a role and returning to “normal” life has been documented by the well-known Lucerne photographer Sylvan Müller at the Lucerne Theatre. He accompanied each of the 26 members of the ensemble during one evening. He met the actors and actresses at the access to the stage, went with them to the make-up room, attended the performance, stood behind the curtain when the final applause started and was present at the wardrobe when the tension gradually lessened and the role was put down. His reportage helps us to understand what is going on inside a person whose self is transformed into someone else time and again.