W.I.R. – A theatre project by Children for Tomorrow and the Ernst Deutsch Theater

AT THE BEGINNING …

young people stand facing one another — some reserved, some rough around the edges, all curious. The first exchange happens through a map.

Together, the young people talk about places they know, have passed through, or call home. Each person marks these places in their own color. Little by little, a picture begins to emerge: everyone has a place where they feel at home. Some even have several. Certain paths cross.

They come from different starting points and yet they meet here in Hamburg. It is a first act of listening, a first introduction to one another’s stories.

A WE …

Half a year later, shortly before the performance, Stefanie Graf visits during rehearsals at the Ernst Deutsch Theater. The excitement so huge, in fact, that the scripts have been left behind at school. Improvisation becomes necessary.

And on precisely this day, it becomes visible what has grown over the past months: a we.

Getting there takes a shared journey. Many conversations, the development of scenes, improvisation games, excursions, disagreements and reconciliations. Step by step, trust, solidarity, and mutual support begin to grow.

By now, the ensemble works together almost effortlessly. They support one another, step in for each other, and carry the shared story forward together.

And surprisingly, the text works even better without the scripts than anyone expected.

THE FINALE …

“Everyone should take one step closer from wherever they are.”

This sentence accompanies the day of the performance.

The tension rises.

The auditorium is full. Families and friends have come, some even traveling from other cities.

Curtain up for memories, thoughts about THERE and THEN, the HERE and NOW, and the FUTURE.

There is laughter. There are tears. And in the end, there is great applause.

For the ensemble, it is more than recognition. They carry another memory within their hearts.

Next week, the group will meet one last time to say goodbye. One thing is clear: everyone wants to continue. The ensemble should keep growing. New participants should join.

The show must go on!