Jan Fabre . Troubleyn

'The Emperor of Loss' is a reworking of a 1996 creation, and forms a diptych with 'The King of Plagiarism', a new monologue that will open at the 2005 Avignon Festival. The issue in these monologues, both performed by Dirk Roofthooft, is Jan Fabre's questioning of the role of the artist and the associated status of originality and authenticity. In 'The Emperor of Loss' we see a clown doing his tricks for the audience. In between his acts and tricks he angles for attention and recognition and presents a report on his life, sometimes chaotic and sometimes clear. He puts questions, reflects on the past and above all expresses the desire to be able to start all over again. He wants to forget everything, except refusal, the strength to dare say 'no'. His tale is one long flow of thoughts in which he seeks the ultimate moment, to 'dream the insoluble dream'. When it was first performed almost ten years ago, Dirk Roofthooft was brilliant as the clown who, like every artist, both needs an audience and yet detests this need.