"Losing Ground" - this is the title of Winterwerft 2024, a theater laboratory and festival that will kick off on 26 January and address the burning ecological and cultural issues of our time. Climate catastrophe, species extinction and increasing social and cultural crises - what means and methods can theater use to accompany these processes? What role does theater play in the search for new narratives?
The Winterwerft brings together groups and artists of different nationalities and thus offers a unique space for collective co-creation. A three-week laboratory phase, in which groups and laboratory participants from all over the world rehearse and train together, culminates in the public weekend events. In addition to the guests' major productions, the newly created works will also be presented here.
The festival's questions can be found in a variety of ways in the program highlights. For example, on Saturday, January 27, visitors can listen to the effects of the climate crisis on the lives of protagonists from the Global South during the award-winning "Climate Monologues". On Sunday, January 28, "Lemniskate" will examine the reality of authoritarian regimes, while "Jimmy - A Ridiculous Tragedy" will explore the effects of toxic masculinity. On Saturday, February 3, "On Top of the Cake" will approach the topic of patriarchy from a female* perspective, while "Corpus Mundi" will focus on experiences with migration and colonialism. On Saturday, February 9, the life and work of the inventor of the Theater of the Oppressed, Augusto Boal, merge into a single adventure in "BOAL". On Saturday, February 10, "WOUND" asks how collective experiences of violence are inscribed in our bodies and culture and how they can be healed. Finally, on Sunday, February 11, "TERRA" combines gardening, plant cultivation and land with stories about migration. A highlight of the program for younger audiences, which always takes place on Sundays, is "Drauf und Dran" on 28 January. Inspired by the special abilities of mushrooms, the theater performance follows ideas of co-existence.
A trip to the Frankfurt Kulturosten is also worthwhile musically: on Saturday, January 27, the Mondena Quartet interweaves classical and modern music, while the ReuSónica Duo from Barcelona plays world music and jazz on Friday, February 9, on self-made recycled instruments. In "Dancer on a Tightrope" on Saturday, February 10, the tension between individuality and social pressure will be explored in Balkan rhythms and world music. Finally, the three weeks of the theater lab and festival will come to a furious conclusion on Sunday, February 11 with the "Losing Ground - Final Show".
The program is complemented by an extensive range of workshops with theater, dance and visual arts aimed at everyone. In addition, artists will present their works of painting, sculpture, installation, film and more in the "Losing Ground - Gallery".
Where: protagon Kulturgelände, Orber Str. 57, Frankfurt Fechenheim
When: 26.01.- 11.02.2024, Friday and Saturday from 18:30,
Sunday from 15:00
Admission on a donation basis
Press material, program and further information: www.winterwerft.de
Picture: "On Top of the Cake"
