CASE STUDY / 01
Fast Genial — Staatstheater Mainz
CASE STUDY / 01
Fast Genial — Staatstheater Mainz
CASE STUDY / 01
Fast Genial — Staatstheater Mainz
VENUE
VENUE
Staatstheater Mainz, U17
Staatstheater Mainz, U17
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
Leonardo Raab
Leonardo Raab
YEAR
YEAR
2023
2023
PRODUCTION TYPE
PRODUCTION TYPE
Novel adaptation
Novel adaptation
01 / THE CONCEPTION
Constructing the Physical way of an emotional journey.
Constructing the Physical way of an emotional journey.
Constructing the Physical way of an emotional journey.
For the stage adaptation of Benedict Wells’ Fast genial, the story crosses the whole United States, but the stage is a small black box. Rather than trying to show the journey, the set starts where Francis does, in a trailer park flea market. Everything the performance uses is on stage from the beginning: piles of second-hand objects, a radio table and a closed trailer.
For the stage adaptation of Benedict Wells’ Fast genial, the story crosses the whole United States, but the stage is a small black box. Rather than trying to show the journey, the set starts where Francis does, in a trailer park flea market. Everything the performance uses is on stage from the beginning: piles of second-hand objects, a radio table and a closed trailer.
The actors build the road trip out of the junk around them. A lamp turns into a motel, a suitcase into a car, a crate into Harvard. The radio table is the one thing that doesn’t change. It keeps the audience grounded in the real world while the story travels further and further away. Then, in the final scene, the trailer opens and reveals a real casino. It’s the first time the stage turns into another place, and it does so right as Francis reaches the end of his search.
The actors build the road trip out of the junk around them. A lamp turns into a motel, a suitcase into a car, a crate into Harvard. The radio table is the one thing that doesn’t change. It keeps the audience grounded in the real world while the story travels further and further away. Then, in the final scene, the trailer opens and reveals a real casino. It’s the first time the stage turns into another place, and it does so right as Francis reaches the end of his search.
Fig. 01 — Vegas stop
Fig. 01 — Vegas stop
Fig. 02 — The radio station
Fig. 02 — The radio station
Fig. 03 — The Chevy / Protagonist in the story
Fig. 03 — The Chevy / Protagonist in the story
02 / PRESS & CRITICAL RECEPTION
"
“
Precarious circumstances, stylized by Andrea Castañon Gillessen’s beautiful set design.
Precarious circumstances, stylized by Andrea Castañon Gillessen’s beautiful set design.
Precarious circumstances, stylized by Andrea Castañon Gillessen’s beautiful set design.
SHIRIN SOJITRAWALLA
SHIRIN SOJITRAWALLA
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Rhein-Main — 9 January 2023
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Rhein-Main — 9 January 2023
Context
Context
Fast genial premiered at Staatstheater Mainz on 7 January 2023, so it has been continuously presenting for 3 years and 9 months as of October 2026.
Fast genial premiered at Staatstheater Mainz on 7 January 2023, so it has been continuously presenting for 3 years and 9 months as of October 2026.
Itineration
Itineration
Theater an der Ruhr, as part of ZwischenStücke, organised with the Mülheimer Theatertage
Theater an der Ruhr, as part of ZwischenStücke, organised with the Mülheimer Theatertage
03 / DESIGN PROCESS
A clear narrative flow.
A clear narrative flow.
A clear narrative flow.
We began with hand-carved graphite blocks to test the interaction of geometric mass and cold angles before translating the physical models into dynamic architectural renders.
We began with hand-carved graphite blocks to test the interaction of geometric mass and cold angles before translating the physical models into dynamic architectural renders.
03 / DESIGN PROCESS
From raw sketch to reality.
From raw sketch to reality.
From raw sketch to reality.
We began with hand-carved graphite blocks to test the interaction of geometric mass and cold angles before translating the physical models into dynamic architectural renders.
We began with hand-carved graphite blocks to test the interaction of geometric mass and cold angles before translating the physical models into dynamic architectural renders.
