Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic

Performance

3.9.-11.9.2026

Kraftzentrale, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

A powerful ritual exploring Balkan myths, eroticism, death and unbridled vitality

Ruhrtriennale presents Balkan Erotic Epic, a daring large-scale four-hour spectacular performance conceived and directed by Marina Abramović, the world’s most influential performance artist. 

Marina Abramović says:

‘I was born in the Balkan. As a child, I have been exposed to many spiritual rituals in the house of my grandmother which left me with deep and lasting impressions that continue to shape the way I see the world today.

In the past, for so many ancient cultures, procreation and life itself were based on numerous ceremonies aimed at creating an understanding of our existence. By rediscovering this forgotten past, I would like to create a new understanding and context for the public today.’

Balkan Erotic Epic is an immersive experience that draws on ancient Balkan myths and Abramović’s unmistakably very personal, unique and direct performance language.

Audiences move freely through 13 evolving scenes where performers, songs, movement and moments of ceremony form a unity.

Abramović explores eroticism, spirituality and ritual in this work combining performance, dance and traditional throat singing to explore and enact the eroticism embedded in Balkan mythology.

It brings together a fevered ritual where men writhe against the ground in a call for fertility, women gesticulating over graves to awaken the earth, and others baring themselves to the sky to banish impending storms. Unfolding as a threshold experience in which body, myth, culture, memory, and eroticism are interwoven, it allows you to step beyond your usual frame of reference.

Fierce, intimate and ultimately transcendent, Abramović’s most ambitious project to date aims ‘to rediscover the past and our present selves through it’.

Marina Abramović is expected to be present during the festival. However, we cannot confirm that she will be attending specific shows of Balkan Erotic Epic.

Commissioned by Ruhrtriennale; Factory International, Manchester; Berliner Festspiele; Gran Teatre del Liceu; Malta Festival, Poznań’; Park Avenue Armory, Les Théâtres de La Ville, Luxembourg und WestK Performing Arts, Hong Kong Produced by Factory International, Manchester.

„Balkan Erotic Epic is the most ambitious work in my career.“

Marina Abramović

Cast

Artist, Director, Concept, Design
- Marina Abramović
Co-Regie
- Georgine Maria-Magdalena Balk
Choreography
- Blenard Azizaj
Durational Performance Director
- Billy Zhao
Film direction
- Nabil Elderkin
Composition
- Marko Nikodijević
Composition, Sound design
- Luka Kozlovački
Lighting Design
- Urs Schönebaum
Set Design
- Anna Schöttl
Costume Design
- Roksanda Ilinčić
Animation
- Sonia Alcón,
- Fredrik Nordbeck,
- Gideon Prins
Photography
- Marco Anelli
Creative Consultant, Singer and Band Leader
- Dragana Jovanović
Creative Consultant, Singer
- Svetlana Spajić,
- Aleksandar Timotić
Performance Artist, Co-Creator of the Role
- Elke Luyten,
- Maria Stamenković Herranz
Assistant Choreographers
- Rowan Schratzberger
Stage Assistant
- Helene Schönebaum
Intimitätskoordination
- Tigger Blaize
Costume Collaboration and Supervisor
- Shanti Freed
Creative Consultant, Executive Producer for Marina Abramović
- Rafi Gokay Wol
Creative Consultant, Producer for Marina Abramović
- Yasemin Kandemiroğlu
Vocals
- Dragana Jovanović,
- Ana Mratinkovic,
- Aleksandar Timotić
Performance
- Elke Luyten,
- Maria Stamenković Herranz,
- Herma Auguste Wittstock,
- Anna Berndtson,
- Evgenia Tsanana
Dance
- Louis Baxter,
- Elena Cattardico,
- Molly Crabtree,
- Chiara Duccini,
- Ayesha Fazal,
- Lucy Harries,
- JP Hon,
- Spike King,
- Mak Korda,
- Gabriella Lemma,
- Ting Lee,
- Margherita Mattia,
- Sara Maurizi,
- Nicole Nevitt,
- Vilim Poljanec,
- Emma Poyer,
- Dominic Rocca,
- Clara Selberg,
- Sophie Thomas,
- Jack Trotter,
- Yue Ying Ho
Performers
- George Adams,
- Lily Antonia,
- Gloria Carobini,
- Rowena Gander,
- Owen Gaynor,
- Vanda Hagan,
- Tom Halls,
- Smila Vita Hoppe,
- Neil Jacob,
- Jakob Jentgens,
- Moonjoo Kim,
- Goa-Louisa Kollewijn,
- Florian Kreßer,
- Maisha Kungu,
- Julian Mattlinger,
- Francesco Marzano,
- Ali Matthews,
- Lizzy Owen,
- Gaia Pellegrini,
- Konstantin Pütz,
- Janina Schweitzer,
- Yuma Sylla,
- Stylianos Tsatsos
Performance, Maske-up
- Latifah Stewart
Akkordeon
- Valerie Barr
bassoon
- Maxim Kemp
Trumpet
- Will Bird
French Horn
- Grace Harman
Violin
- Georgine MacDonell Finlayson
Percussion
- Sam Milton,
- Emilio Yànez Ruiz
Sausofon
- James Seabrook
Production
- Martha Wilson
Artistic Production Manager
- Rebecca Jones
Künstlerische Produktionsassistenz
- Rebecca Burgess
Artistic Director & Management
- John McGrath
Head of Audience Development
- Scott Simoniti
Senior Audience Development
- Bethany Garrett
Content Creation
- Alex Mannion-Jones
Head of International Relationships
- Eva Pepper
Senior International Management
- Hannah Falvey
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Judith Humer
Assistant Artistic Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Janne Gerl,
- Janna Gangolf
Assistant Stage Manager
- Daniela Kiesewetter,
- Ella Schmalenberg,
- Catherine Schumann
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Darko Šošić
Technician
- Anne Gollasch,
- Adam Petrenko,
- Andreas Semmler
Chief Dresser
- Daniela Bermudez
Dressing and Costume Team Ruhrtriennale
- Laura Effsing,
- Emma Lou Paleit,
- Luise Steinmann,
- Anna Tsang
Hair and Makeup Team Ruhrtriennale
- Pia Norberg,
- Katharina Groß,
- Kathi Kullack,
- Alexandra Schramm
Live-Action
- Dana Kamhawi,
- Martin Hatzius,
- Eirik Waldemar Fjerdingstad,
- Adriana Fernandes,
- Raquel Diniz,
- Marianne Barendsen,
- Jojo Alcón Zavieh,
- Kirk Zavieh,
- Deborah Resing
Rotoskopie
- Natascha Jakobs-Linssen,
- Alessandra Cesarato

Supporters Ruhrtriennale

With the kind support of the Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Ruhrtriennale e. V.

Creative childcare

Happy Sundays invites families to enjoy Sundays together. Children aged between 6 and 11 can get creative during an afternoon performance: with guidance from theatre educators, they explore music, dance, and play. While the adults are at the theatre, a playful art space is created for the kids. Childcare will be available in the Hüttenmagazin at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord on 6 Sept, coinciding with the performance of Balkan Erotic Epic. Tickets can be booked via our webshop.

Talking about the process of creating the stage design for Balkan Erotic Epic with Anna Schöttl