Crooks, girls and the gallows

In the dark alleys of London in 1728, the shrewd Mr Peachum runs his shady business preying on people’s compassion, whilst the charming highwayman Macheath – known as Mackie – steals the hearts of women and the purses of the rich. But when Macheath secretly marries Polly, the Peachums’ daughter, the criminal enterprise begins to unravel. Amidst betrayal, jealous brides and the looming shadow of the gallows, a story unfolds about greed, love and the question: who is the greater criminal – the one who robs the bank, or the one who founds it?

The show is based on the legendary original by John Gay, who revolutionised the theatre with his ‘Beggar’s Opera’ (1728). In doing so, he not only created the first satire on high society and the world of opera, but also laid the foundations for one of the greatest theatrical successes of the 20th century: Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill drew their inspiration for their famous “Threepenny Opera” directly from this very work. And now, so too have Birthe and Sascha Thiel.

Stage/Production: Self-designed, classically inspired stage. Play: Sascha Thiel. Sets and characters: Birthe Thiel. From Schleswig.

Language: German; Duration: approx. 35 minutes; Recommended age: 12+

Have a look after the baby!
- A crime comedy -

Ede is a single dad and also has a ‘day job’: he’s a burglar who breaks into safes. His mates have come up with another ‘sure-fire job’, and Ede is supposed to crack the safe. For a tidy sum, of course. - Ede would love to join in, but who’s going to look after his baby while he’s away? Then one of the gangsters has a crazy idea …

Stage/Production: Traditional paper theatre with shadow play scenes. Sieglinde and Martin Haase from Remscheid.

Language: German; Duration: 30 minutes; Recommended age: 8 years and up.

The Rats of Hamelin
In Hamelin, life goes on as usual: people lead a good life and there is enough of everything for everyone. But it is not only the townspeople who help themselves to the food in their pantries; the rats do too – greedy and wicked! A minstrel may be able to lure the animals out of the town, but their malice lingers in the alleys and infects the citizens of Hamelin. They themselves become greedy, evil and violent.

Based on the ballad by the German singer-songwriter Hannes Wader, Hellriegels Junior tells a slightly different version of the old legend.

Stage/Production: self-designed stage; open-plan performance. Frede, Jule and Willem Klemmer from Stampe/Kiel.

Language: German; Duration: 30 minutes; Recommended age: 10 years and over.

I Feel So Good
A musical featuring people and animals

Cast: 22 animals, 7 people, 1 half-human, half-animal creature

Clarinettist Georg finds himself in a deep crisis of meaning because of his music. He seeks solace in the natural world of the forest. There he finds friendship and a musical partnership. But then he finds himself facing fierce resistance. Together with his companions, Georg begins to use music strategically...

Stage/direction: performed live by Marlis and Rainer Sennewald from Halle (Saale). Sounds and music: Ensemble Lili Schultz.

Language: German; Duration: 40 minutes; Recommended age: for adults and children aged 8 and over.

A cheerful, colourful adaptation of this classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. A heart-warming story about how four ageing animals, having escaped from their owners, join forces to start a new life. A donkey who runs away to avoid being slaughtered meets a dog who is too old to hunt; they meet a cat who can no longer catch mice, and a cockerel destined for the cooking pot. An encounter with some robbers brings them closer together on their musical journey. A treat for the senses!

Stage/production: Featuring cut-out paper figures, exciting sound effects, atmospheric music and live narration. Sarah Peasgood and Pete Lawrence from the UK.

Language: English; Duration: 25 minutes; Recommended age: suitable for all.

Fraud in Opopanax
In the Kingdom of Noses, everything is going well—or almost. Those who have a nose rule; those who don’t work. The Minister for Smell and Good Taste has lost his nose—he can no longer make perfume! The Minister for Security is investigating and will soon find the culprit. But is it the right one? The anger over this injustice is very strong. How can a revolt be prevented? A nose for everyone, perhaps…

Stage/Production: open table theatre, self-designed. All live. Éric Poirier from France.

Language: German; Duration: 40 minutes; Recommended age: for all.

No Nightingale – The Story of a Fairy Tale
Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known fairy tale *The Nightingale* has been carefully adapted (abridged!) and supplemented with a lyrical prologue on the author’s life by Dieter Lohmann, culminating in a critical epilogue that brings the story to a close in a typically
unconventional manner.

Stage/Production: a two-part, self-constructed stage with paper-cut elements. Spoken and performed live. Manfred Kronenberg, Dieter Lohmann, Armin Düpmeier, and Markus and Marion von Hagen from Warendorf.

Language: German; Duration: 45 minutes; Recommended age: for adults, ages 10 and over.

A capitalist Lion

After a delicious meal and an afternoon nap, a lion decides to go hunting once more and, so to speak, stock up on supplies, as he wants to make good use of the rest of the day. Four antelopes and one gazelle later, he is happy but completely exhausted and lies down. Strange things happen in the savannah at night, for ‘the lion sleeps tonight’, and by morning the prey has vanished. Schuschu, the old marabou, has a solution, and in doing so sets off an avalanche. A little lesson in capitalism.

Stage/direction: open-style performance on an open stage with plenty of movement. Massimo and Peter Schauerte-Lüke from Wipperfürth.

Language: German.

Hans and Greta – A Fairy Tale from the World of Tomorrow
What happens when Hansel and Gretel live in the 21st century? 
Instead of breadcrumbs, there are data cookies, and instead of a gingerbread house, a neon-lit electronics store awaits. 
When Mrs Hexa enchants the parents with VR headsets and feeds them into her network, it’s up to the siblings to pull the plug. Armed with wit, a laptop and a real sheet of paper, Hans and Greta take up the fight against total system crash. Fun for the whole family – guaranteed without battery life!

Stage/Production: Traditional stage set-up with side-stage performance. Sets and characters designed in-house. Susanne and Stefan Schweig from Buseck. Prominent voice actors on tape: Gerburg Jahnke, Kim Hasper, Bernd Egger, Carsten Weyers, Hellriegels Junior.

Language: German; Duration: 30 minutes; Recommended age: 6 years and up.

'Gift parcel, not for commercial sale'
This wording had to appear on every parcel or small package sent from West Germany to East Germany. The scent of the big wide world wafted from these parcels and has remained in many people’s memories. The parcels promised access to consumer goods that were otherwise unattainable. For the recipients, they meant joy and gratitude, but also shame and a guilty conscience. What should one, what could one send back in return? East-West German sensitivities (not only) in postal traffic.

Stage/Production: open, self-designed stage. Live performance and audio recordings. Live music. Marc Schubert and Carl Hentzschel from Berlin.

Language: German; Duration: 40 minutes; Recommended age: 10 years and over.

In the middle of the frozen taiga, Babushka takes in a tiny cockerel whose crowing accidentally wakes a very grumpy bear from his hibernation. When the bear storms into her hut, the household objects come to life in a whirlwind of paper and feathers. Can this fragile world outwit a giant bear? An enchanting slapstick adventure for the whole family.

Stage/Production: open-plan production with pop-up elements. Combination of live performance and recorded sound. Andrea Kiss, Jean-Philippe Salvadori and Mahima Salvadori-Kiss from France.

Language: English/French; Duration: 20 minutes; Recommended age: 5 years and up.

The Ugly Little Duckling
Once upon a time, there was a little duckling. When it was born, it was completely grey, and nobody wanted it. This story is a little sad. “It’s not like us, it’s completely grey! Perhaps it will bring illness!”, said its siblings, the hen and the fawns. It sought shelter and had no friends. Who will take it in?

The original story by Andersen teaches us that we must not give up hope and that our differences will one day be recognised.

Stage/Production: Pop-up paper theatre in an oversized, open book format. Narrated, acted and sung live by Olivier Gorichon from France.

Language: German; Duration: 45 minutes; Recommended age: for all.

Among the stories of the Golem, there is a rare account of a female Golem – the Golem created by the famous poet and philosopher Reb Solomon Ibn Gabirol, who lived in 11th-century Spain and created the Golem out of love, only to ultimately destroy it.
 
This story is enchanting, as it depicts a unique historical moment of peaceful fusion between two cultures – Islamic and Hebrew – in medieval Andalusia.

Stage/Production: self-created diorama paper theatre. Designed by Olesya Volk; performed by Yulya Dukovny from the USA.

Language: English; Duration: 30 minutes; Recommended age: for adults. 

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to take part in a workshop.

Other Worlds Travel Agency

Mr Gris leads a quiet life – some might say a dull and dreary one. Until one day he comes across a strange tour group and finds a business card on the ground: ‘Other Worlds Travel Agency’. Mr Gris books a package holiday – across the galaxy. On his journey, he visits other, colourful worlds. Will it change his life completely? How much does it take to be happy? And will Mr Gris’s travelling companion finally find their way home?

Stage/Production: self-created and written play on a specially constructed stage. Traditional style of performance. Thore Petersen from Löptin near Preetz.

Language: German; Duration: 45 minutes; Recommended age: 8 years and over.