Sinfonie des Fortschritts
We live in a society dedicated to progress: democratic, scientific and technological progress that would supposedly bring us all social justice, prosperity and a good life, a new world or even a new planet. It is precisely this idyllic concept of progress that Nicoleta Esinencu focusses on in «Sinfonie des Fortschritts» (Symphony of Progress), revealing its violent aspects. The piece shows how progress within the capitalist system incessantly creates new forms of exploitation and colonisation. It shows how technological development leads to control and oppression instead of protection and support, and how the violence between West and East is progressing and has even been intensified by the pandemic. Supported by the pounding sound of work tools and machine parts, Nicoleta Esinencu and the spălătorie collective tell the story of people from Eastern Europe who have to work in degrading conditions in the West in order to survive.
The director and writer Nicoleta Esinencu lives in Chisinau, Moldova. Through a scholarship at the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, she gained international recognition in 2005 with her play «FUCK YOU, Eu.ro.Pa!». In 2010, she co-founded the independent cultural venue teatru-spălătorie. This had to close again in 2017, but the collective continues to exist as an independent theatre group. «Sinfonie des Fortschritts» is the second collaboration with HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin.
For people with vision disabilities
An audio description is available on 5.5. In addition to the description of the visual elements, the German surtitles will be read aloud. You can get the headphones at the box office.
The foyer of Dampfzentrale is equipped with tactile ground surface indicators. After the performance on 5.5. you will have the opportunity to take part in a touch tour of the stage set. The meeting point for the tour is after the performance in front of the entrance to the hall.
If you attend a performance with an assistance dog, you can of course take it with you into the theatre hall. Or the dog can wait in an adjacent room during the performance. If you wish to do this, please contact us in advance at silja.gruner@auawirleben.ch.
For people with mobility disabilities
Dampfzentrale is wheelchair accessible. There are stair lifts to the foyer, the Turbinensaal and the toilets. The staff will be happy to help you operate the lifts. The theatre has a barrier-free toilet. If you are coming with a wheelchair, please contact us in advance so that we can reserve an appropriate seat for you: silja.gruner@auawirleben.ch
Surtitles
The spoken text has Moldovan Romanian, Russian and English parts and is surtitled in German and English.
Special Check-In
We offer the possibility of a Special Check-In. If for any reason you would like to avoid the crowded foyer, have trouble getting into the hall with the crowd, need a special seat or require assistance due to a mobility restriction, please contact us in advance (silja.gruner@auawirleben.ch). Someone from the team will accompany you according to your needs.
Social Story
Social Stories are used as a tool to prepare people for public events such as theatre performances. In our Social Stories you will find a description for each performance, what situation to expect at the venue and what customs apply there. You can find the PDF for the Social Story (in German) of «Sinfonie des Fortschritts» here.
- Creation
- Nicoleta Esinencu, teatru-spălătorie
- Performance
- Artiom Zavadovsky, Doriana Talmazan, Kira Semionov
- Technical Development
- Iulian Lungu, Neonil Rosa
- Technician
- Sergiu Iachimov
- Production Management
- Jana Penz
- Artistic Advice
- Aenne Quiñones
- Technical Direction HAU
- Annette Becker
- Sound HAU
- Janis Klinkhammer
- Light HAU
- Lea Schneidermann
Co-Production: FFT Düsseldorf, HELLERAU Dresden, Rampe Stuttgart, Festival Theaterformen