The versatile Swiss actor Daniel Bill plays in "Tatort", is currently portraying the shyster lawyer "Kanter" at the Bernhard Theater and can be seen in Winterthur for the third time in a row in Karl's Kühne Gassenschau. In the new production "Sektor 1", which runs until June 3, 2017, Dani Bill plays the ringleader Ricco. We met him during rehearsals in Winterthur.
event.: Hello Dani, this is the third time you've played in Karl's Kühne Gassenschau - what fascinates you about this theater company?
Daniel Bill: Karl's Kühne Gassenschau is unique because this form of theater requires a high level of physical fitness: We do daredevil jumps, we all sing, there's always a live band, it's pure action, but not a musical. It simply can't be compared to anything else. For me, it's real rock 'n' roll. I can live out my ramp sow qualities to the full.
What role do you play in "Sector 1"?
I play Ricco, a ringleader in the last eco-zone in the world, Sector 1. Ricco has enormous potential for aggression, he's a former rock singer whose tour crashed because electricity is no longer allowed. That's a great role. In Sector 1, everything looks green and beautiful on the surface, but there's a lot going on underground. It's actually a penal camp and I'm the leader of the revolutionaries.
What can we expect in the play "Sector 1"?
The play is about human abysses: Sector 1 represents the last patch of intact world, the rest is destroyed. And then the earth strikes back. There's a real tsunami and the whole thing escalates.
That sounds very pessimistic!
The subject matter of "Sector 1" seems cynical, but also realistic. The shaken people can recover in Sector 1, the last environmental sector. But everything is only superficially fine there. Suddenly the revolution starts. A tower is stormed and sparks fly!
How fit do you have to be for this role and how do you keep fit?
As I talk and sing a lot and cover long distances in this production, this role requires a lot of physical strength. But I have a certain basic level of fitness from jogging. I also do yoga regularly and train with 16-kilo dumbbells.
A few actors jumped off the high tower over there earlier - do you do that too?
Yes, we actors all have to be able to do stunts so that we can stand in for each other in an emergency. I was actually the first person to jump from that 9-meter tower, I'm really proud of that. But I have a double in the play. I only jump myself in an emergency.
Aha, why is that?
Ten years ago, I was still doing my stunts like a Muni in the dung heap! But I broke my nose and my hand in the process and regularly overstepped boundaries. That no longer has to be the case.
Karl's Kühne Gassenschau is always trying to push boundaries. What limits are you pushing at the moment?
I've reached a limit right now during rehearsals: Rehearsing in the noise of the building site makes you very tired, and I've realized that my character isn't "finished" yet. So I have to look at what the character is still missing and deal with the emotions even more.
How do you do that?
It's exhausting, I sometimes have sleepless nights because I realize: "Ricco isn't finished yet!" That's my personal ambition, of course, and sometimes my family suffers too. It only gets really good when I dream about the character. I've also become quite thin-skinned in the last few rehearsals, which is certainly also related to the theme of "Sector 1" - we're showing a pretty drastic world - that sometimes gets to me.
Does the fun or the seriousness outweigh the seriousness in this production?
It's balanced. We produce a lot of fun, but there is also a bitter aftertaste.
You recently became a father again. How has that changed your life?
I'm very happy and am now much more optimistic about the future. I honestly didn't want children at all before, but now I've changed my mind. Now I think: children are hope. I'm sure that's also down to my wife. All in all, we now have four children: Grace is six years old, Amy and Jack are three, and Jolene is three months old. We are already trying to raise our children to be mindful of nature.
Where do you live with your family?
We live in the canton of Schwyz, in the countryside, which is wonderful. We have a very healthy lifestyle and are surrounded by nature.
When you look into the future, what do you see?
I don't see it as bleak as I did before. But I think we have long since gone beyond the limits as far as the environment is concerned. Now we need all our strength so that we can still have a positive experience of the future.
Who should watch "Sector 1"?
Anyone who wants to enjoy an unforgettable summer evening where they can laugh and experience a lot of depth at the same time. The grandstand is covered, which means you can come even if it's raining - and have a cozy dinner here on the grounds beforehand.
KARL'S BOLD STREET SHOW
"Sector 1" 2016/2017
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