Follow the dopamine

In the organizer's words:

Follow the dopamine
Dance piece on ADHD and neurodiversity

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Merle| Mischke | Klee explores ADHD-typical characteristics such as enthusiasm, creativity or empathy and reflects on how different concentration, impulsivity and emotional vulnerability feel. The three performers seek a constant togetherness and become a group that jumps, dances and intertwines together, constantly questioning themselves: What does it mean to be mindful of the needs and abilities of others? They indulge in phases of hyperfocus and repeatedly succumb to chaos, distraction and exhaustion.

In interviews with neurodivergent people, the team was able to collect numerous anecdotes that are heard in the performance. Elena Bulochnikova and Jasiek Mischke live with ADHD and together with their neurotypical collaborators, they reflect on how neurodiversity shapes friendships, relationships and our social coexistence.

Relaxed Performance / What does that mean?

Merle | Mischke | Klee invites people who feel uncomfortable with conventional theater etiquette to attend the theater. This performance aims to create a relaxed space in which audible audience reactions or movements are allowed. At the beginning of the performance, all audience members first enter the stage space and can get very close to the stage objects. The audience then disperses to two opposite stands to sit on chairs. During the hour-long performance, the entrance door remains unlocked and constant audience lighting makes it possible to leave the auditorium, take a break in the quiet foyer and return at any time. In the middle of the performance, it gets very loud and the light changes abruptly. The theme is ADHD in adulthood and you hear some very emotional stories about neurodiversity in English and German. The performance is aimed at an audience aged 15 and over.

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Merle | Mischke | Klee examines characteristics typical of ADHD, such as enthusiasm, creativity and empathy, and reflects on how different concentration, impulsiveness and emotional vulnerability feel. The three performers seek a constant togetherness and become a group that skips, dances and intertwines together, questioning themselves: what does it mean to be mindful of the needs and abilities of others? The trio indulges in phases of hyperfocus and repeatedly succumbs to chaos, distraction and exhaustion.

The artists have collected many anecdotes in numerous interviews with neurodivergent people, which are heard in the performance. Elena Bulochnikova and Jasiek Mischke live with ADHD and together with their neurotypical collaborators, they reflect on how neurodiversity shapes friendships, relationships and our social coexistence.

Relaxed Performance / What does that mean?

Merle | Mischke | Klee also invites people to visit the theater who may feel uncomfortable with conventional theater etiquette. This performance aims to create a more relaxed space in which audible audience reactions or movements are allowed. At the beginning of the performance, the audience first enters the stage area and can get very close to the stage objects. The audience then spreads out over two tribunes opposite each other with chairs to sit on. During the one-hour performance, the entrance door remains unlocked and soft lights make it possible to leave the stage, to take a break in the quiet foyer and to return at any time. In the middle of the piece, it gets very loud and the lights change abruptly. The performance focuses on ADHD in adulthood and you can hear some very emotional stories about neurodiversity spoken in English and German. The piece is aimed at an audience aged 15 and over.

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"Follow the dopamine" is a project by Merle | Mischke | Klee and is co-produced by Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg and Netzwerk Freier Theater e.V. (NFT). It is funded by the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of Schleswig-Holstein and the Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media. The NFT is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media via the "Promoting Connections" program of the Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V. The performances are made possible by the Hamburgische Kulturstiftung, the City of Flensburg and the City of Neumünster. Rehearsal stays are supported by the "Zu Gast im M.1." program of the Arthur Boskamp-Stiftung Hohenlockstedt.