Old Masters

Zusatzvorstellung am 19.5. 14.00 Uhr:

Children have the extraordinary ability to bridge the gap between their subjective perception of the world and objective reality. The world and their world are not so far apart. However, as we grow older, we lose this wonderful gift. Boundaries appear and harden. The interior becomes denser, transforming into a secret garden, hidden from the «outside» world.

With the help of a panopticon of images, objects and visions, the Old Masters’ theatre piece offers children a home for their spirit. A sanctuary as well as a space to assert their personal imagination, their creativity and the ability to invent their own world. The stage is transformed into a world of scenes in which individual visions are allowed to exist and be expressed and in which all perspectives strive for an explosive colourful and invigorated reality.

Together, Marius Schaffter (performer and geographer), Jérôme Stünzi (stage designer and artist) and Sarah André (author, artist and stage designer) form the Old Masters collective. Since 2014, they have been collaborating on major and minor issues, trivial or relevant discourses – and creating their works based on this material. They create a stage performance collectively and understand it as a total work of art. Using its favourite weapons of absurdity, sincerity, benevolence, irony, beauty, sadness and gentleness, Old Masters works to uncover answers to the question of what freedom might be today: a freedom that is contextualised, changeable and always in search of its own meaning.

There will be a Pro Helvetia-hosted round table discussion with catering and a party afterwards in the Dampfzentrale studio from 17:15 to 18:45. The expert exchange will revolve around the question «What does quality in the field of young audiences mean in programming?». Five short contributions by artistic directors and the Institute of Theatre Studies Bern will set the mood for the discussion.