südpol.windstill

In the organizer's words:

by Armela Madreiter

10-year-old Ida and her friend Robert Falcon Scott are united by one passion above all: polar research. Day in, day out, they seem to be preparing for future research trips. But before they can get to grips with the mysteries of the icy caps on the other side of the globe, they have other things to take care of: For some reason, the school is desperate to speak to Ida's mother. This has to be prevented, because although Ida's mother sits on the sofa all day, she is not really there. Ida knows this side of her mother and can deal with it, but she has to protect her from the outside world as best she can.

Armela Madreiter is an author and dramaturge. Her play "südpol. windstill" was awarded the special prize for students of scenic writing by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. In this play, she gently and poetically tells the story of Ida, who grows up in precarious circumstances and with a mentally ill mother.

With this production, the Theater und Orchester Heidelberg has been invited to the KUSS Festival of the Hessisches Landestheater Marburg and has been nominated for the KinderStückePreis through its invitation to the 49th Mülheimer Theatertage.

Congratulations, Armela Madreiter!
Armela Madreiter was awarded the Mülheimer KinderStückePreis 2024 for her play "südpol.windstill" on May 17, 2024. The prize is endowed with 15,000 euros. The 49th Mülheimer Theatertage presented the world premiere by Junges Theater Heidelberg, directed by Yvonne Kespohl.

The play is a "very, very concentrated composition". With ten-year-old Ida, who lives with her alcoholic mother, it creates "a real heroine", explained the jury. After 75 minutes of public debate, the jury voted unanimously for "südpol.windstill".

Ida's reality of life is portrayed very well - and it is possible to experience how she deals with her situation with great imagination, joie de vivre and empathy. The text offers "many opportunities for play and opens up a space to talk about difficult topics". This year's jury consisted of director Ebru Tartıcı Borchers, cultural journalist Anne Fritsch and author Björn Hayer.
(From the press release of the Mülheim Theatertage from May 17, 2024)