"The art of entertainment" by Jan Lauwers & Needcompany (2011)

The art of entertainment is a black, almost cynical comedy about a famous actor, who decides to bring his life to an end because he feels that his memory, where the soul resides, is slowly breaking down. He is invited to kill himself in a reality show -- 'The art of entertainment' -- that has a huge number of viewers worldwide. It is a cookery programme where a celebrated French chef prepares a final meal for the suicide. In a confrontation with his great love, the woman with whom he has made love more than a thousand times, Dr Joy, the embittered doctor without borders, and of course the world-famous host of the programme, an aging stand-up comedian now past her prime, a conversation starts on the decadence of the Occident. The actor delivers a tirade on the loss of his ability to practice his profession: acting. With: Met: Grace Ellen Barkey, Misha Downey, Julien Faure, Yumiko Funaya, Benoît Gob, Viviane De Muynck, Dirk Roofthooft and Eléonore Valère. Production: Needcompany/Burgtheater (Vienna)