A review of Willem Dafoe's experimental theatre piece 'No Title (An Experiment)' at the Venice Biennale Teatro, co-starring Simonetta Solder. The performance, based on notes by Richard Foreman, is described as directorless, fragmented, and ultimately banal, lacking drama and heart despite Dafoe's return to his avant-garde roots.
No Title (An Experiment) review – Willem Dafoe’s return to avant garde theatre is oddly banal
TheatreStageCultureVenice BiennaleWillem Dafoe
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A review of Willem Dafoe's experimental theatre piece 'No Title (An Experiment)' at the Venice Biennale Teatro, co-starring Simonetta Solder. The performance, based on notes by Richard Foreman, is described as directorless, fragmented, and ultimately banal, lacking drama and heart despite Dafoe's return to his avant-garde roots.
- 1 Willem Dafoe co-founded the Wooster Group.
- 2 Dafoe became artistic director of Venice Biennale Teatro.
- 3 'No Title (An Experiment)' is performed at Tese dei Soppalchi, Venice.
- The performance is deemed 'oddly banal' and lacking dramatic parts and heart.
- Raises questions about the effectiveness of its experimental approach.
What: A review of the experimental theatre performance 'No Title (An Experiment)' starring Willem Dafoe and Simonetta Solder, based on notes by Richard Foreman, which is criticized for being banal and lacking narrative.
When: Published 2025-06-08T12:30:19+00:00 (The event itself is ongoing or recently occurred as part of the Venice Biennale Teatro).
Where: Tese dei Soppalchi, Venice, Italy.
Why: Willem Dafoe, as artistic director of Venice Biennale Teatro, curated a program reflecting his experimental theatre influences, including this piece. The review aims to critique its artistic merit.
How: Dafoe and Solder perform a directorless two-hander, reading fragmented notes from index cards by Richard Foreman, smashing glasses, and incorporating jazzy music and lighting, but failing to create a compelling narrative.