The Artistic Director – Natasha Higdon – Has very much enjoyed the process of creating a puppet for the performance in February that is a representation of Kafka and how he viewed himself. Natasha has read Kafka’s short stories multiple times, and through doing so has been trying to get into the mindset of Kafka ‘on the move.’
The eighteen short stories in Contemplation (Betrachtung) are indeed a window to Kafka’s soul, supposedly having hundreds of diary entries, he chose only eighteen – His selection, not knowing why of course. In The Writer’s Mark, the Cast will present only nine in true episodic form – As each have a clear identity and form.
Natasha has used inspiration from the illustrations by Twisted Spoon Press and many Kafka reflections about how he viewed his body image and persona – This quote being profoundly helpful:
“I never wish to be easily defined. I’d rather float over other people’s minds as something strictly fluid and non-perceivable; more like a transparent, paradoxically iridescent creature rather than an actual person.”
Franz Kafka
The Writer’s Mark 