Desperate Measures

«Desperate Measures»
Phil Hayes / First Cut Productions

Between laughter, tears and world-weariness. With songs, music, stories and perhaps a little dancing, a desperate performer tries everything he can to connect with his audience. Will he succeed?

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Wed 10/12 20:00
Halle
Fri 12/12 20:00
Halle
Sat 13/12 20:00
Halle
Sun 14/12 18:00
Halle

Its been quite a day…

Its been quite a week..

Lets’ just face it, Its been quite a year..

So how are you all doing?

How are you coping?

Whats your strategy?

Zurich-based actor, musician, and director Phil Hayes is known for his melancholic wit, his precise use of language, and his subtle irony when dealing with diffrent subjects – in this case with aging. Live music has played an important role in many of his works. For “Desperate Measures,” he is collaborating with musicians Martina Berther, Mario Hänni and Dominic Oppliger to conjure up an evening full of dark humor and heartfelt songs.

On stage: a hopeful artist stands before the curtain. With him: three musicians. The artist wants our respect. He wants our trust. He wants above all to make a connection – and he will do what he can to get it. He has even hired a band for the occasion. But the question remains: is this a comeback or his last chance?

Information on accessibility and language

in spoken English with German surtitles
stepless access

Phil Hayes is an actor, musician and director from Zurich.
He is known for his humour.
He makes jokes with irony.
He makes jokes about getting older.
Live music is important in his work.
He works with three musicians for the play ‘Desperate Measures’:
Martina Berther
Mario Hänni
Dominic Oppliger
There is an artist on stage.
The artist wants us to trust him.
He does everything he can to achieve this.
He has even learned tap dancing.
This is a dance with shoes that make noise.
Is this his new beginning or his last chance?
Concept, Text, Songs, Video, Performance:
Phil Hayes
Music, Performance:
Martina Berther, Mario Hänni, Dominic Oppliger
Artistic Advisor:
Kim Noble
Dramaturg:
Julia Hintermüller
Initial Artistic Input:
Shawn Sides
Specialist Training:
Nikolaj Bauer, Luca Gygli
Stage:
Sina Knecht
Lighting:
Patrik Rimann
Sound:
Susanne Affolter
Production:
Lukas Piccolin
Diffusion:
Lise Leclerc
A Production by:
First Cut Productions
A Co-Production by:
Gessnerallee, supported by a residency at Montevideo, Marseille and with thanks to Rude Mechs of Austin Texas and Backstage Studio Zurich
Phil Hayes is a performance-maker, theatre director, actor and musician. He has also worked in kitchens, restaurants, pubs, factories, on the radio, on tv and on building sites. He was born on the south coast of England and studied Creative Arts in Newcastle upon Tyne many years ago. Based in Zurich since 1998, Phil has spent most of this time creating performance and theatre work, mainly through the non-profit association (Verein) First Cut Productions, including; ‘Awkward Human’, ‘Legends & Rumours’, ‘Love & Happiness’, ‘Places Of Interest’, ‘These Are My Principles...’, ‘WORK’ and ‘Under The Influence I - III’.
In Hayes performance works the collaborative process has generally been the basis for generating content and form together with a rolling series of new and regular collaborative partners. His work has regularly toured internationally. Hayes also makes performance-based work in other contexts, working as a freelance performer, director, advisor, dramaturg, writer or musician in collaborations with a wide variety of artists and groups. He was a regular collaborator with British performance group Forced Entertainment (2009 - 2016) and worked on several projects with performance-maker and choreographer Simone Aughterlony. Hayes has also appeared in several films, including Angela Schanelec's ‘Der traumhafte Weg’ (2016) and Piet Baumgartner's ‘Bagger Drama’ (2024). ‘Desperate Measures’ marks 23 years of Hayes working, performing and creating at the Gessnerallee.
First Cut Productions' work is currently represented for touring by Lise Leclerc.
www.philhayes.ch
www.thefirstcut.ch
City of Zurich Culture Department, Canton of Zurich and Ernst Göhner Foundation