Labor für das „Intenational Center for Artistic Representation and United Society“ (ICARUS)

The performing arts must open up to the realities of life of a young and diverse audience with actors, working methods, content and forms.

In the endeavor to open new avenues, the performing arts must close the gap between themselves and the realities of young and diverse audiences with regard to actors, work methods, content and form in a manner that views power critically and is sensitive to discrimination. What formats were developed during the pandemic that can continue to be used? What keeps people with a history of immigration and/or who have experienced racism or class discrimination from visiting the theater?

The lab’s core team is made up of cultural scientists, curators, directors and actors from the independent theater scene who have experience with various social groups and can share their diverse connections. Based on individual discussions, topics of interest are defined, and relevant resources are made available in an online archive. During a two-day retreat at the Haus des Wandels, participants network and process the collected material. In this way, they collaborate to develop concepts for audience growth with a focus on diversity, which will then be implemented in the Grüner Salon of the Volksbühne Berlin.

Dr. Lea Wohl von Haselberg (Media Scientist), Murat Dikenci (Actor & Head of Universen, Staatstheater Hannover), Barbara Santos (Artistic Director kuringa e.V.), Thu Hoài Tran (Freelance Director & Dramaturge), Julia Wissert (Artistic Director Schauspiel Dortmund), Barbara Meyer (Artistic Director S27), Ilker Abay (Freelance Director & Actor), Theater Ramba Zamba & Theater X