The Seer

Based on the stories and personal experiences of war photographers, Milo Rau’s powerful monologue explores the fragility of human beliefs and perceptions.

Why are we so fascinated by violence? What remains when war and terror destroy the world as we know it?

In The Seer, actress Ursina Lardi portrays a war photographer who travels through conflict zones searching for images of fear, suffering, and destruction. Through her camera, she documents the darkest realities of human existence while remaining seemingly untouched by the violence she captures.

Eventually, however, she becomes a victim herself.

Following this experience, the celebrated photographer transforms into a modern-day Cassandra — a skeptical prophet attempting to confront the blindness of contemporary society and question the assumptions upon which our understanding of the world is built.

Milo Rau’s play is inspired by real-life experiences of war photographers and Iraqi civilians, including his encounter in Mosul with teacher Azad Hassan, whose hand was amputated as punishment during the occupation of the city by ISIS.

Drawing inspiration from Philoctetes, the tragic hero of Sophocles who loses everything after a devastating injury and is cast out by society, Rau once again examines the vulnerability of human beliefs and the consequences of trauma.

The performance asks profound questions:

• Why is violence so compelling?
• What remains after war and terror destroy the structures of everyday life?
• Can humanity survive in the face of extreme suffering?
• Can art truly alleviate pain?

The Seer is a deeply moving theatrical reflection on violence, memory, responsibility, and the enduring struggle to preserve meaning in a fractured world.