by cheek kiss collective | LabBOX

"You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires."
(Anthony Bridgerton)

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb..."
(Edward Cullen)

Dearest gentle readers,

this author finds herself compelled to bear the most curious of news. We invite you to share our guilty pleasures for one evening, without any feelings of guilt. Of course, watching Bella Swan become completely dependent on an emotionally manipulative and controlling 104-year-old vampire rings alarm bells.

But there's also something we love(d) about the characters consuming each other, the dramatic confessions of love. While Twilight and Vampire Diaries have made a huge comeback in recent years, series such as Bridgerton, Young Royals and Maxton Hall have become the most commercially successful new productions.

What fascinates us about these young adult forbidden love triangle enemies to lovers stories? We would like to talk to you about our ambivalent relationship with the successful "kitschy" love films and series of current pop culture, which for us as female socialized people in a feminist environment moves between criticism, social devaluation and longing. Let's come together to share our favorite, heartiest, funniest, most meme-able or hair-raising moments and be real fangirls again.

The performance CRINGE IS DEAD, KITSCH IS BACK! is a tribute to all fangirls who, contrary to public opinion, manage to legitimately criticize the cause and the circumstances that so illude them. What happens when we take fan culture out of the online spaces and onto the stage for an evening? In our most beautiful Elena-Core blue filter layering & Bridgerton aesthetic outfits, we get ready for a cozy evening in community.

Yours truly,

cheek kiss collective

Klara Annemarie Rewicki (*she/her) is an actress, dancer and theater maker from Leipzig, Germany. In 2023 she completed her studies in Physical Theater at the Folkwang UdK in Essen. Based on her many years of experience in contemporary dance, Klara develops interdisciplinary theater pieces that make you laugh and touch you.

Laura Kersten (*her/hers) is a theater scholar, performer and freelance theater maker from Leipzig, Germany. In her artistic work, she is particularly interested in pop-cultural phenomena, feminist themes and playing with social conventions and role models.

LabBOX is the Cammerspiele series for theatrical experimentation.