After a year of searching, we reach the finale of the original opera. After stops in Barbieland, the Spanish Civil War and outer space, the search now finds itself, ending in a story that only seems banal: a soap opera. On the scene of a funfair, we meet the young naïf Paul at the shooting gallery, the trophy girl Ines and Angelika, who always masters life with a smile, and ask questions about sacrifice and self-sacrifice, and what else all this has to do with a (soap) opera. Gradually, a different tone is revealed and a hidden myth emerges, whose story tells of horror and redemption from ancient times. Is it a classical story at all, or are we not here with something quite different, more archaic?
The Helmi Puppentheater Kollektiv from Berlin has been working at Ballhaus Ost since 2006. They combine many artistic languages and directions in their shows, in which self-made Helmi puppets and self-written music always take leading roles. As in the year-long research journey »Die Suche nach der Ur-Oper«, the form in the finale also springs from their own changing viewpoints in the genre universe, and ranges from the thesis-like and abstract to the true-to-life and irritating. Hidden under phraselike everyday talk and theatrical explosions of emotion, the story behind the story is revealed, told together with the musician Amy G Dala and choreographer Sasa Queliz, as well as in collaboration with the actors, lyricists and directors Christina Berger, Anne Kulbatzki and Florian Hein.
Notes on the Relaxed Performance
The light in the auditorium is not completely dimmed at any time and noises or movements of spectators are accepted and understood.
There is room for interaction & all reactions are welcome. However, no interaction with the audience is expected.
Content to expect:
• Loud music at the beginning and then recurring loud music &
singing
• English sentence fragments without translation
• In between recurring swear words
• Marking of a birth
• Violent action „kicks“
• Themes of : deception, soldiers who were at war, patriarchal family structures, climate crisis (different perspectives are
expressed), love
• Recurring sexist remarks
Should there be a need for a private pick-up service from the nearest bus stop (Eberswalder Straße), we ask that you contact us in good time. In addition, we would like to refer people over the age of 65 to the Malteser cultural escort service, which arranges voluntary cultural mentors for the journey to the performances.
For other needs not listed, please contact us: karten @ ballhausost.de
A production by Das Helmi in cooperation with Ballhaus Ost, supported by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
