Character Beyond Plot – 2

Option 1: Archetype
When there is no room for biographies, archetypal condensation can provide orientation. This inevitably reduces the expressive force a character can bring into a story. The narrative therefore has to carry itself, even when it relies on stereotypes.
Characters are not explained individually, but made recognizable through attitude, vocal gesture, and perspective.

Examples:
– the style-obsessed hairdresser
– the politicized student
– the pragmatic construction worker
– the detail-oriented scientist
– the impulsive chef
– the warm-hearted chestnut vendor

In our project at Heldenplatz, we deliberately worked with stereotypes because a large number of different characters appear and the order of the stories is freely chosen by the audience. The characters were established less through content than through modes of conversation, tonal choices, and the performative decisions of the voice artists.