Take A Trip To William Burroughs’ ‘Interzone’
By Tristan Hanks
Inspired by the International Zone in Tangiers, Morocco, ‘Interzone’ is an independent self-governed stateless state. Its inhabitants are a motley mix of the down and outs, outcasts, criminals, and the rich and famous from the rest of the world. Built around a heaving marketplace where anything’s for sale, the city sprawls organically, mutating everyday under the actions of its inhabitants.
The rule here is the moment, action defines the atmosphere and anything that can be dreamed can happen, if you can find the right collaborators.
William Seward Burroughs II was born on the 5th of February 1914 to a wealthy family in St. Louis, Missouri. A leading light of the Beat Generation, Burroughs went on to deeply influence leftfield culture and thought with dozens of books and hundreds of paintings, essays and spoken word performances. These include the seminal cult novels ‘Naked Lunch’, ‘The Soft Machine’ and the semi-autobiographical drug journal ‘Junki’e. The relevance of this work persists in modern times as he made many accurate predictions of technological evolution and oversteps of state control. Burroughs was informed by a lifetime of heroin addiction and dialogue with provocative thinkers. Notable collaborators include Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Waits, Kurt Cobain and Terry Southern.
He continued writing until the day he died on the 2nd of August 1997, at the grand old age of 83.
To mark the William S. Burroughs centenary, a few days after what would have been his 100th birthday, Guerrilla Zoo presents an experiential event inspired by his life and times. Based within the strange and seedy surreal “metaphorical stateless city” of Interzone, the event takes the world of Burroughs’ writing and brings it to life with an immersive spectacle, combining promenade theatre, music, performances art, films and art installations.
Taking place at a yet unknown secret location somewhere in the shadows of London’s sinful streets, INTERZONE will be an interactive event full to the brim with dubious refugee crews of ‘Wild Boys’, decadent artists, gun-runners, government agents, criminals, artists, drug smugglers, tax-evading tycoons and beat eccentrics who will thread their ways about each other, among magical and alien creatures, through the alleyways, cafes and bars creating unrepeatable moments of intense human theatre.
All in attendance will not only be witness to this glorious glimpse into the underbelly of excess and degradation, visitors will also become the residents of Interzone and will be encouraged to dress in the following suggested styles; Misfits, Terrorists, Traffickers of Delusion, Tribes, Deviants, Delinquents, Corrupt Officials, Beatniks, Mugwumps, Re-occurring Dream Characters, Lady Boys, Drag Kings, Cannibals, Merchants of Sex, Time Travellers, Practitioners of the Dark Arts, People who aren’t allowed on planes, Gypsies, Egyptian Gods, Arabian Royalty, Sufi Dervishes & Moroccan Hawkers.
So to be part of this experimental evening celebrating one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century go to Guerilla Zoo’s website and order your passes to a world unseen full of diamond dogs and a soundtrack of Steely Dan and Mister Heartbreak. Anyone with even a passing interest in the beat generation’s output should take heed the words below and open up the senses to this once in a lifetime experience.
WHAT: Guerrilla Zoo presents Interzone
WHERE: Secret Location, London
WHEN: Friday 7th Feburary 2014
TIMES: 8pm – 3am
PRICE: From £20, [Adv Only]
WEBSITE: http://www.guerrillazoo.com/interzone-burroughs-100
Inspired by the International Zone in Tangiers, Morocco, ‘Interzone’ is an independent self-governed stateless state. Its inhabitants are a motley mix of the down and outs, outcasts, criminals, and the rich and famous from the rest of the world. Built around a heaving marketplace where anything’s for sale, the city sprawls organically, mutating everyday under the actions of its inhabitants.
The rule here is the moment, action defines the atmosphere and anything that can be dreamed can happen, if you can find the right collaborators.
William Seward Burroughs II was born on the 5th of February 1914 to a wealthy family in St. Louis, Missouri. A leading light of the Beat Generation, Burroughs went on to deeply influence leftfield culture and thought with dozens of books and hundreds of paintings, essays and spoken word performances. These include the seminal cult novels ‘Naked Lunch’, ‘The Soft Machine’ and the semi-autobiographical drug journal ‘Junki’e. The relevance of this work persists in modern times as he made many accurate predictions of technological evolution and oversteps of state control. Burroughs was informed by a lifetime of heroin addiction and dialogue with provocative thinkers. Notable collaborators include Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Waits, Kurt Cobain and Terry Southern.
He continued writing until the day he died on the 2nd of August 1997, at the grand old age of 83.
To mark the William S. Burroughs centenary, a few days after what would have been his 100th birthday, Guerrilla Zoo presents an experiential event inspired by his life and times. Based within the strange and seedy surreal “metaphorical stateless city” of Interzone, the event takes the world of Burroughs’ writing and brings it to life with an immersive spectacle, combining promenade theatre, music, performances art, films and art installations.
Taking place at a yet unknown secret location somewhere in the shadows of London’s sinful streets, INTERZONE will be an interactive event full to the brim with dubious refugee crews of ‘Wild Boys’, decadent artists, gun-runners, government agents, criminals, artists, drug smugglers, tax-evading tycoons and beat eccentrics who will thread their ways about each other, among magical and alien creatures, through the alleyways, cafes and bars creating unrepeatable moments of intense human theatre.
All in attendance will not only be witness to this glorious glimpse into the underbelly of excess and degradation, visitors will also become the residents of Interzone and will be encouraged to dress in the following suggested styles; Misfits, Terrorists, Traffickers of Delusion, Tribes, Deviants, Delinquents, Corrupt Officials, Beatniks, Mugwumps, Re-occurring Dream Characters, Lady Boys, Drag Kings, Cannibals, Merchants of Sex, Time Travellers, Practitioners of the Dark Arts, People who aren’t allowed on planes, Gypsies, Egyptian Gods, Arabian Royalty, Sufi Dervishes & Moroccan Hawkers.
So to be part of this experimental evening celebrating one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century go to Guerilla Zoo’s website and order your passes to a world unseen full of diamond dogs and a soundtrack of Steely Dan and Mister Heartbreak. Anyone with even a passing interest in the beat generation’s output should take heed the words below and open up the senses to this once in a lifetime experience.
WHAT: Guerrilla Zoo presents Interzone
WHERE: Secret Location, London
WHEN: Friday 7th Feburary 2014
TIMES: 8pm – 3am
PRICE: From £20, [Adv Only]
WEBSITE: http://www.guerrillazoo.com/interzone-burroughs-100
