POLITISCHES THEATER – Eine Tragödie

In the organizer's words:

Seating is limited to 40 people.

What is political theater?
What is politics in theater?
What is theater in politics?
Do we want to make political theater or political theater?
What "social relevance" do the performing arts have in 2023 in times of increasingly hostile action from the right in Germany?

c.t.201 will answer these questions - probably.
With the audience - without is not possible.
In the stage space - where else?

With a great love for the performing arts and a belief in their effectiveness, paired with a healthy skepticism towards (world) political developments, we allow actively experiential theater theory, irony and practice to meet the ever faster escalating theater of the political stage - as a collective performative and receptive act.

Short interview with Tim Mrosek (Artistic Director):

c.t.201 is known for making political theater. Why now an examination of political theater?

"Making political theater or making political theater: Both should always involve an examination of form, content and working structures. In this respect, this is nothing new for c.t.201. In this production, however, the focus is clearly on different forms of "political theater" and the structures of "making political theater". And on "theater" in politics."

Do you deal with your own works or with this form of theater in general?

"With our own works only to the extent that they are references for us in the working process.
"Political theater" in itself can take many different forms. We are looking at a few selected forms that we have seen in recent years, which have an effect on us and which we quote without being able to clearly name their authorship - but they probably go back to the ancient Greeks"

Where will this debate take you?

"Well, onwards, as always."

Why should I come, what's in it for me as a viewer?

"We are trying to create an entertaining evening that may make you angry, but above all is committed to the idea that theater can be a place where people can meet each other openly - in a protected setting in which reality is made impossible for a short time by art, in the spirit of Heiner Müller."

Press reviews:

"The audience takes a seat on the grandstand in the Orangerie Theater auditorium, albeit facing the wall. How is theater supposed to be performed here? It won't be, because there are countless prompts projected onto the wall for the audience. And you are already caught in the trap of manipulation, which works breathtakingly well."
(Hans-Christoph Zimmermann, Choices February 2024)

It is a warm-up that is as unusual as it is witty, illustrating in a very direct way the everyday excessive demands on the individual in the ever faster-moving political discourse, where statements on social media portals that are waved off with likes or dislikes often replace a differentiated discussion.
(Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 07.03.2024)

Trigger warning: Topics such as propaganda, fake news and political violence are addressed.

Production: c.t.201

With: Manuel Moser | Artistic Director: Tim Mrosek | Dramaturgical Consulting & Outside Eye: Carmen Konopka | Video: Nastassja Pielartzik | Lighting design: Aaron Kröger | Production assistance & Outside Eye: Paulina Triebs | Production management: Iris Schweitzer | Photo: Ingo Solms

Price information:

19,00 € normal | 12,00 € reduced | 8,00 € with Köln-Pass (excl. fees)