Category: Music & Sound Design for Performing Arts

Madhouse. Helsinki. 2020.

This performance-essay about parks was conceived by Venla Helenius and Milka Luhtaniemi. The sound design consisted of a 8.1 surround arrangement, the base being recordings of spoken word, both in Finnish and English. Additionally, I worked with live loops of Livia Schweizer’s flute playing. The material for the composed parts of the sound design also consists mainly of sampled flute sounds. We were happy to use Tatu Nenonen’s self-built subwoofer (which also served as part of the set design with a summer-meadow growing on top of it).

CREDITS
Concept, texts, performing, spatial design: Venla Helenius and Milka Luhtaniemi
Lighting design and spatial design: Sofia Palillo
Sound design and composition: Johannes Birlinger
Flutist and improvisation: Livia Schweizer
Voice over: Aino Lintunen
English translation: Eve Lahikainen

Staatstheater Mainz. By Hannah Biedermann & Ensemble. 2020.

In this research-based performance about questions of personal future, professions, identity, I worked with 4 tape recorders on stage. The sound design was the result of a meticulous choreography of playing back different tapes by the performers. On the tapes were pieces of music relevant to themselves but also edits of interviews with children and other experts as well as composed sound design and music by myself.

Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf. By Hannah Biedermann & Ensemble. 2019.

“Perfect Family — Eine Glücksforschung von Menschen mit Behinderung.”
By Hannah Biedermann und Ensemble. Premiere 2019. Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf. Music and Sounddesign: Johannes Birlinger.

Training Theater Helsinki. Directed by Tuomas Rinta-Panttila. 2018.

Ballhaus Ost Berlin. Kompanie Kopfstand. 2016.

An interactive performance about money, being rich, being poor, injustice and fun. Created by Kompanie Kopfstand, based on extensive research including three workshops with young people.

Grips Theater Berlin. By Hannah Biedermann & Ensemble. 2015.

A piece for young audiences about garbage, its origins, disposal, recycling and other trash stories. Based on a lot of real life research.

Theater Vorpommern/ Performdance. Putbus/Stralsund. 2015.

“Atlantis” was a performance with kids aged 10-12 from the island of Rügen, Germany. We followed the myth of the sunken city of Atlantis and interwove it with the young dancers’ images and experiences of their own island home.

Kompanie Kopfstand. On tour since 2013. Germany wide.

“Trau Dich” has been commissioned by the German ministry for family, health and social as part of a campaign to prevent sexual abuse on children. After a long research period that involved children as experts, the play premiered in March 2013 in the Renaissance Theatre Berlin. It has been on tour through theatres nation wide ever since, reaching more than 250.000 children. We have additionally given a lot of talks and presentations around applied theatre in general as well as art and child-protection specifically.

Credits:

A “Kompanie Kopfstand” Production • Directors: Annina Giordano & Christopher Gottwald • Text: Tina Müller • Video: Sonya Schönberger • Stage Design: Michael Ottopal • Music: Johannes Birlinger • Theatre Pedagogue: Charlotte Baumgart • Performers: Julia Bihl, Lisa Scheibner, Julian Hackenberg, Johannes Birlinger, Charlotte Baumgart, Johanna Malchow, Helge Gutbrot, Marcus Thomas, Adrienn Baszo • Technical Crew: Michael Ottopal, Denise Potratz, Tobias Nöthen, Lasse Schwank

Staatstheater Dresden. Directed by Jan Gehler. 2012.

Credits:

Director: Jan Gehler • Stage Design: Sabrina Rox • Costume Design: Cornelia Kahlert • Music: Johannes Birlinger • Dramaturgy: Luise Mundhenke • Lighting Design: Andreas Rösler • Performers: benjamin Pauquet, Karina Plachetka, Antje Trautmann, Benjamin Höppner, Stefko Hanushevsky • Based on Joseph von Eichendorff’s Novella “Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts”

Theater Strahl Berlin. 2012.

Credits:

Director and text: Günter Jankowiak / freely adapted from G. E. Lessings „Nathan der Weise”. Assistant director: Janina Reinsbach. Stage and costume design: Daniele Drobny. Music: Johannes Birlinger.Theatre pedagogue: Ann-Marleen Stöckert. Performers: Beate Fischer, Andreas Schwankl, Natascha Manthe, Oliver Moritz, Liane Steinnagel, Justus Verdenhalven