- more than a danced revue about the loss of reality -

This dance revue inspired by Cervantes’ novel “Don Quixote” leads the audience into a closed world of memories and longing. Egon and Eric, an older man and his young companion, live in a tragically absurd partnership of convenience they can no longer escape from. Their ritualised daily routine consists of the escape into past adventures and the pointless attempt to flee the present. Only the beautiful Dulcinea repeatedly casts her spell over them. Melancholy, scurrilous, funny to the point it brings tears to your eyes, Egon Madsen and Eric Gauthier embody an unequal pair that uses one another as listener and participant in their own fantasies. Choreographer Christian Spuck was inspired by two exceptional performers, creating a tribute to two dancers as well as two dance generations which have already enchanted countless spectators.

On September 6, 2007 the Theaterhaus Stuttgart presented the world premiere of Don Q. Christian Spuck, one of Germany's most successful choreographers, will create the work for internationally acclaimed dancer Egon Madsen and Eric Gauthier, a Stuttgart based, highly versatiled dancer, singer and songwriter. Don Q. is a production of the Theaterhaus Stuttgart in co-production with the Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg and in cooperation with the Stuttgart Ballet, in celebration of John Cranko's 80th Birthday.
Individual perceptions of the world and the desire to realize one's dreams form the basis of this tragi-comic revue, inspired by Miguel Cervantes' picaresque novel Don Quixote. Following not the plot, but rather the tenor of the famous book, Don Q. depicts an aging gentleman and his young companion who are caught in a tragic partnership of convenience. To songs about being "unlucky in love", the two men reenact episodes from their past and weave fantasies in which they become heroes, perfect lovers or knight and squire, yet remain so caught in their memories and their imaginary world, that even the simple act of tying their shoes becomes a battle akin to tilting at windmills. The needs and vanities, desires and dreams of this male duo, who are alternately clowns and tragic heroes of the theater of the absurd, shape the episodes which result in "a not always danced revue about the loss of reality."
For Don Q., Christian Spuck will use music by Franz Schubert and Alfred Schnittke as well as diverse pop songs. Sets and costumes are by Emma Ryott, lighting by Till Grab and dramaturgy by Esther Dreesen.
Spuck, who has previously successfully translated literary works such as Frank Wedekind's Lulu, Edward Bond's The Children and E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Sandman into dance, has chosen a subject matter perfectly suited to making the most of Egon Madsen's and Eric Gauthier's unique dancing and acting abilities. In so doing, he continues the Theaterhaus tradition of presenting theatrical dance inspired by strong stage personalities.

Egon Madsen, born in Denmark, is one of the foremost dancers of his generation. In 1961 he joined the Stuttgart Ballet, becoming one of the legendary personalities with which the previously unknown German company conquered the hearts of ballet audiences and critics around the world. Apart from his technical and acting abilities, it was Madsen's extreme versatility that inspired many choreographers, most especially John Cranko, but also Glen Tetley, Kenneth MacMillan, Peter Wright and John Neumeier among others, to create unforgettable roles for him. In 1981 Madsen retired from the stage, and directed companies in Frankfurt, Florence and Stockholm, returning afterward to the Stuttgart Ballet as Assistant Director under Marcia Haydée. In 1999 Madsen was invited by Jiri Kylian to join the Nederlands Dans Theater III, a unique company of mature dance artists over the age of forty, which became world famous with a tailor-made repertoire of works based on the strong personalities of its members. Madsen was soon appointed Artistic Director as well as dancer of NDT III, and once again inspired choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Robert Wilson, Mats Ek, Meryl Tankard and Paul Lightfoot. In 2006 he stepped down from his positions and is currently teaching and pursuing selected projects such as Don Q.

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