Böse Kinder

In 1865, Wilhelm Busch’s illustrated story*Max and Moritz* was published. The eponymous protagonists are thrust into a world hostile to children: beatings are commonplace in classrooms, and the goal of education is obedience. Backtalk is not tolerated. But they wouldn’t be Max and Moritz if they didn’t know how to fight back.

What was actually intended as an educational measure directed at the adult world was, on the contrary, interpreted as a warning to misbehaving children. Generations of people grew up with these stories, which became classics of German children’s literature and have been translated into 300 languages. How do children, teenagers, and adults view the pranks of Max and Moritz today? How do we want to educate and be educated? What do young people expect from adults, and what do adults expect from young people?

“Naughty Children” isa PLUS production. Performers from Kassel and the surrounding area become experts and question their own—and our—worldviews. Following in the footsteps of—and loosely based on the motto of cartoonist Wilhelm Busch, “Just do your best and be happy; trouble will come anyway”—they explore the merits and necessity of disobedience.

Florian Hein studied directing at the HfS Ernst Busch in Berlin. Since graduating in 2017, he has been working as a director and musician. His productions have been staged at venues including the Theater Dortmund, Theater Magdeburg, Residenztheater München, Deutsches Theater Berlin, and the Berliner Volksbühne. A key focus of his productions is working with choirs. At the Staatstheater Kassel, he introduced himself to young audiences by taking on the production*Atlantis*.

*Böse Kinder*is offered to school groups in evening and matinee performances. To prepare for the performance, free introductions as well as materials for pre- and post-performance activities can be requested. 

Inquiries to: theaterpaedagogik@staatstheater-kassel.de

www.staatstheater-kassel.de