How do children experience the Corona pandemic? What ideas do they have about what it can be like after the pandemic? What do they wish for afterwards? During her week at Dampfzentrale Bern, Brandy Butler talks to children about imaginative ideas about the post-Corona world and lets them have their say in her artistic work for people aged 10 and up. An invitation from Brandy Butler to everyone to discover and discuss the question “What’s next?” together.
US singer, performer and activist Brandy Butler works in various collaborations, as a music teacher and is an ensemble member of Theater Neumarkt. Artistic work with and for young people is of great concern to her.
«You’re frozen» is a statement that most people would’ve probably interpreted differently before the coronavirus pandemic. But these words now have a brand-new meaning: Our image on Zoom, Skype, Facetime or some other digital meeting space has become frozen due to a bad WiFi connection, or the sound keeps cutting out. The idea of being «frozen to the spot» refers to these annoying phenomena that we currently have to deal with in our everyday lives. But the term «being frozen» can also be used when alluding to other, more profound aspects of our lives.
Our perspectives appear to be frozen. While having kicked off previous years with a bang, we’re now being forced to start this one at a somewhat slower pace. What will the future bring, will things continue as before or will we see much change, where am I in all of this uncertainty, and when will the pandemic finally be over and done with? The answers to these questions are either vague, uncertain or non-existent. Forecasting anything is just as difficult as planning something.
The pandemic has touched everyone in some way or other. It particularly affects the human body, as this is the target of the virus. On the one hand, we are losing sight of our body, and on the other hand, it is still omnipresent. As a result, bodies disappear because they are dying, because they are avoiding public spaces to protect themselves or because gatherings are forbidden. On the street, masks have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, hiding our faces and thus our facial expressions. At the same time, we’re more aware of our own bodies than ever before. A cough, a sneeze and any feeling of being ill immediately gives us cause for concern. Common bodily functions that we hardly thought twice about in the past are now taken notice of – by ourselves and by others. Everything revolves around our health, resilience, freedom of movement and the survival of our bodies.
«Eingefroren» sees the return of Dampfzentrale Bern after its contemplative break. Seeing as we’re still not allowed to re-open, we have decided to come knocking on your door instead: Four artists will take up residence and work at Dampfzentrale for one week each. During this week, art, choreography, performance and theatre will be created around an issue that we feel strongly about. Every Sunday evening in February, the artists will present the results of their efforts on the following topics:
«Eingefroren»: Nils Amadeus Lange on 7 February 2021
«I’m not sick, I’m in pain»: Sun Niederer on 14 February 2021
«Well-being»: Daniela Ruocco on 21 February 2021
«Was kommt?»: Brandy Butler on 14 March 2021 (Young Audience)
