Anatomy of Survival

Vivienne Franzmann and Frauke Requardt

A woman wearing an orange shirt bangs her fist angrily on the table.
Photo by Camilla Greenwell Photo by Camilla Greenwell

About Anatomy of Survival

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A woman walks into a cafe. She orders a coffee. The barista doesn't understand her request. The woman loses her sh*t. Chaos reigns.

This offbeat collaboration between award-winning playwright Vivienne Franzmann and choreographer and psychotherapist Frauke Requardt, brings together 22 very different eyewitness accounts of one everyday altercation to show how our nervous systems are stuck in the Stone Age. Performed by two dancers, an actor and a drummer (and one bear). Anatomy of Survival is a show for all the nervous systems in the auditorium. Come and feel the rise and fall of yours.

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Jolting cymbal crashes that put the audience into red-alert mode... shaking and quaking dances

The Guardian, September 2025 (Piece on Anatomy of Survival and Frauke’s psychotherapy practice)

Entertaining, thought-provoking, and mischievously humorous

London Pub Theatres on Anatomy of Survival, September 2025

About Frauke Requardt

Frauke Requardt is a German-born, London-based choreographer. Her choreographic work is characterised by physically challenging choreography, a strong theatricality, dark humour and an overall sense of surrealism. She uses text and live music and a mixture of abstract and emotionally based movement to deliver highly engaging work.

About Vivienne Franzmann

Vivienne Franzmann is an award-winning playwright. She has had work produced nationally and internationally. Her work includes Pestsat The Royal Court and The Manchester Royal Exchange, The Witnessat The Royal Court, Bodies at The Royal Court, The Snow Queen at Bristol Old Vic and The It for the National Theatre Connections Programme. She has taught playwriting to a wide range of writers including women in prison, care-leavers in London and playwrights in Cuba. She is currently developing work for television and film. Frauke and Vivienne were paired together in an experimental collaboration between The Royal Court, Encounter Productions and The Place to share their working practice.

Cast and Creatives

Co-Directors: Frauke Requardt & Vivienne Franzmann

Choreography: Frauke Requardt and original cast

Writer: Vivienne Franzmann

Cast: Bea Bidault, Kath Duggan and Neil Callaghan

Original Cast: Bea Bidault, Kath Duggan and Solène Weinachter

Composer & Live Musician: Stefano Ancora

Designer: Hannah Clark

Lighting Designer: Lucy Hansom

Sound Design & Production: Chameleon drums&perc Studio

Video Design, camera and edit: Susanne Dietz

Production Manager: Rachel Bowen

Costume Supervisor: Annette Raudmets

Composer of “What She Wants”: Dave Price

Research Consultant: Frank Bock

Credits

Commissioned and co-produced by The Place in association with The Royal Court. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and by the Royal Philharmonic Society with funding from the RPS Drummond Lockyer Fund for Dance.

  • One performer stands confidently and points directly forward, while the other performer next to them is in a deep, contorted pose, with their head tilted far back and their body leaning to the side.
  • A drummer sits at a red drum kit on the left side of a dark, reflective stage. On the right, two performers stand with microphones, all three in matching outfits, yellow tops and bottoms as well as pink knee-high socks.
  • Two almost identical dancers with long dark hair wearing matching yellow striped shirts, tan shorts, and pink hats stand side-by-side, the performer on the left has a soft almost smile while the one on a right a more mischievous look. They stand together against a black background.
  • A performer stands with their arms raised, wearing a yellow striped shirt, similarly coloured trousers, and a full, furry brown bear head mask with an open mouth and bared teeth.
  • Two performers move in mirrored unison, their long dark hair flying around them. They are facing each other on a dark, glossy stage.
  • A dancer with long dark hair kneels and blows into a blue balloon, with a drummer visible in the blurred background.