Short of Lying

In a coalition agreement or the closing argument in a court case. But also in a love letter or a written complaint. Every time it is used, language proves its power to persuade. One masterly example is the spoken word performance Short of Lying. Wordcrafter Luanda Casella [1977] has ingeniously composed a text about bluff, bullshit and mystification. She uncovers the mechanics of misleading communication: framing, alternative facts, window dressing, storytelling-aimed-purely-at-profit. For the art of the story has been hijacked. Luanda was inspired by authors like Dostoievski, Calvino and Heller, who like to work with unreliable narrators in their novels. Her award-winning performance, in the shape of a TED Talk, is in English with Dutch surtitles.

Credits

Written and performed by Luanda Casella

Dramaturgy Sébastien Hendrickx

Coaching Tom Dupont

Scenography Felix Fasolt

Costume & scenography assistant Joy Vervaeke

Soundtrack Pablo Casella

Light design Maria Dermitzaki

Production Katrien Reist and Julia Reist (arp)

Support & residencies

Workspace Brussels, WP Zimmer, Campo, CC de Grote Post, KASK School of Arts, W I P C O O P/ MAF, VERBO International Performing Arts Festival / Galeria Vermelho (São Paulo), Stad Gent and Vlaamse Overheid